Both U.S., Europe should be part of future security guarantees for Ukraine – PM

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated this at a press conference on Tuesday, answering a question from Ukrinform whether the government, against the backdrop of the turbulence in relations with the U.S., sees a certain decrease in the importance of the U.S. in establishing peace with the Russian Federation and the transfer of the role of mediator to another nation.

“I am convinced that in future, in such security guarantees for Ukraine, the U.S., the EU, European countries, the UK should participate… Turkiye, perhaps we will be looking into this (along the way – ed.)… Firstly, there is no such track of negotiations yet on who should the mediator be or who will lead all this. This is not the case, and we are currently focused on our work with the EU, our work with the U.S., with the UK, with partners who can act as providers of security for Ukraine in the future,” Shmyhal noted.

In turn, Ukraine says that in the future it is necessary to form a certain coalition that will ensure the presence of a stable and sufficient contingent for the security of the EU and Europe, the Prime Minister explained.

According to Shmyhal, Ukraine would like to take part in this and is able to do so. “Our standards today are already NATO standards. Our Army today is one of the most capable, the strongest. Accordingly, work with partners, with the EU regarding the formation of such a security contingent form the next steps. Today, it is obviously too early to comment on them. Therefore, we are working and will work with our strategic stable partners,” Shmyhal emphasized.

The head of government added that Ukraine is grateful to all its partners who are ready and willing to lend a shoulder to Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression and to all partners who are ready to lend a shoulder to Ukraine in the issue of concluding a peace agreement.

“But I will repeat after our President: Ukraine is interested in a just, stable, and lasting peace. We are ready for negotiations, we are ready – on Ukraine’s terms. The terms are clearly formulated. There is an appropriate formula from the president, there are appropriate approaches to how this should be done. Ukraine is a victim. Accordingly, this initiative should come from us. It does come from ours. And we are communicating it publicly,” Shmyhal said.

As reported, earlier, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said efforts to maintain peace in Europe and achieve success in ending the war in Ukraine should have strong support from the United States.

According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the plan for future peace talks in Ukraine must take into account the position of Kyiv and several dozen countries, including those outside the EU. Security guarantees for Ukraine are a separate issue that was not the subject of negotiations in London on March 2.