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The establishment of concrete security guarantees for Ukraine could create the conditions for setting a clear end date for the ongoing war, which affects not only Ukrainian territory but also poses a threat to the whole of Europe, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a visit to Lithuania.
According to Zelensky, the key guarantees for Ukraine are bilateral security arrangements with the United States. The corresponding document is already finalized, and Ukraine is awaiting the partners’ readiness to formalize it for signing.
“The document is 100% ready. We are now waiting for our partners to agree on the date and location for signing. Afterwards, it will proceed for ratification in the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament, according to our agreements,” Zelensky said.
The second component of Ukraine’s security guarantees involves European assurances, particularly within the framework of the “Coalition of the Willing,” as well as Ukraine’s prospective membership in the European Union.
Zelensky also emphasized the importance of economic security guarantees and clear EU integration timelines. He stated that Ukraine will technically be ready to open all negotiation clusters with the EU in the first half of 2026, and fully by 2027.
The president stressed that Ukraine aims to establish a specific date in the agreement on ending the war so that all parties, including the aggressor, are obliged to adhere to the arrangements and so that the process cannot be blocked in the future.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
At the beginning of January, Zelensky said that the bilateral document on security guarantees with the US is effectively ready, and the next step is its finalization at the highest level.
On January 13, the president stated that Ukraine continues to work with the US on security guarantees and reconstruction, noting the possibility of signing the agreements soon. He added that this also involves subsequent legal approval of the documents by the US Congress and the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada.
