Ukraine refuses to accept "meaningless" security guarantees from the United States. Unlike in 2015 and the Minsk Agreements, Kyiv now views real protection against future Russian invasion as an "integral part" of any peace settlement.
As reported by "Hvylya," Alyona Getmanchuk, Ukraine's Ambassador to NATO, stated this in an article for The Telegraph.
The diplomat emphasized that Ukrainians are extremely cautious regarding any discussions on security formats due to negative past experiences.
"It is no surprise that after all these experiences, Ukrainians have become extremely wary of any discussions regarding security guarantees. They are not going to accept another meaningless proposal, no matter how well it is packaged as security guarantees," Getmanchuk noted.
According to the publication, plans for the creation of a European rapid reaction force are being finalized. This mechanism involves the use of force should Russia violate ceasefire terms. The framework is as follows: Ukraine acts first, joined if necessary by European units (stationed both inside and outside the country), with any military support backed by the U.S.
However, Washington's position has shifted. President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped to sign an agreement with Donald Trump at the Davos forum, but White House envoys changed course. The U.S. now demands that Kyiv agree to a peace deal, which could include the transfer of Donbas territories, simultaneously with a security treaty.
Sources note that this is seen as a U.S. attempt to accelerate the process following the first direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials, which took place last week in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also commented on the situation. He confirmed that the discussions involve a bilateral document between the U.S. and Ukraine, as well as a separate one between the U.S. and Russia. The main sticking points remains the issues of territories and the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
According to the minister, Volodymyr Zelensky is ready to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to resolve these sensitive issues.
