President: We want to gain understanding of security guarantees architecture within 7–10 days

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a conversation with journalists yesterday, Ukrinform’s correspondent reports.

“We want to gain an understanding of the security guarantees architecture within 7–10 days. And with that understanding, to secure a trilateral meeting [a meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia]. That was my logic. President Trump proposed a slightly different approach: a trilateral meeting through a bilateral one. But in the end, we all agreed that we are still working on the security guarantees, shaping this approximate infrastructure—similar to Article 5 [of the North Atlantic Treaty]. And what we have today is political support for this,” Zelensky said, summing up the negotiations in Washington.

As for the security guarantees from the Coalition of the Willing, Zelensky noted that at present, he cannot say how many countries are ready to send their troops to Ukraine.

“We do not know how many countries are ready for boots on the ground [the physical presence of troops in Ukraine]. We know that the Coalition of the Willing includes 30 countries that are potentially considering participation in security guarantees. Some may provide boots on the ground. Some are ready to deliver air defense. Some will cover the skies or conduct air patrols for a certain time, with the necessary aircraft in sufficient numbers. Some, I am sure, will only be ready to provide funding because of neutrality or another status in their Constitution. What matters is that these countries exist, including Japan and Australia, and that they are engaged and willing. We do not yet know what exactly they will commit to, but the important thing is that they are there. A little time—and we will have a clearer picture,” the Head of State assured.

He emphasized that under any circumstances, the main contingent will be Ukrainians.

“The Ukrainian army needs weapons and salaries. And if there are as many countries as I mentioned, then perhaps they will ensure financial support and weapons for Ukraine. That is no small matter,” Zelensky noted. He also commented on why China is not among the countries that could provide Ukraine with security guarantees.

“First, China did not help us stop this war from the beginning. Second, China helped Russia by opening the drone market. Third: this is not even about the servicemen who may be present there. It is about the Budapest Memorandum. China was among its signatories, and it did nothing when Crimea was occupied. That is why we do not need guarantors who do not help Ukraine and did not help Ukraine at the moment when we truly needed it after February 24. That is why we need security guarantees only from those countries that are willing to help us,” Zelensky concluded.

As reported by Ukrinform, on August 18, the President of Ukraine, together with several European leaders, held a meeting in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a peaceful settlement of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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