What security guarantees can Ukraine get?
Let’s face a simple, obvious fact: no country will send its troops here. If their politicians had the guts, they would have already done so—and far more simply: they would have given us long-range weapons (ballistics). So let’s discuss other options.
- European continental army
It’s clear that NATO is already a limited bloc—one country can block everything, so relying on it for protection doesn’t make much sense. Russia has shown the real vulnerability of the European continent to war, and Ukraine has shown that Russia can be hit. Therefore, creating a European army from a coalition of states is the best alternative against any future threats. In a way, it would be a mini-NATO on European soil. For us, such a guarantee would be ideal, provided we actively participate in building this army.
At the moment, the idea seems unlikely, as Europeans still hope to enjoy a comfortable life funded by American security aid. The belief that Trump’s return would fix everything today is stronger than the reality, in which a return to the past is no longer possible.
- Weapons
Second, guarantees can come from weapons. I mean ALL weapons (except nuclear), not those token supplies with a bunch of conditions. Clearly, Tomahawks and F-35s might not be deployed on our territory. Fine—then place them on our border, and in the event of a new Russian invasion, we must have access to all stockpiles. Additionally, our armed forces should train with this equipment in neighboring countries—especially with high-tech weapons.
- Defense funding
Infusing billions of dollars into the defense sector—military production and fortification construction—is also a strong guarantee. But this should be a fixed amount or a percentage of partner countries’ defense budgets. There is logic here: part of their defense work is effectively carried out by us.
- Sanctions
Maintaining sanctions on Russia ensures it remains weak enough to prevent another large-scale aggression. And if China keeps Russia in check, it will also weaken relative to the West.
These are the kinds of guarantees we can realistically aim for. No matter how much we wish otherwise, no one will fight for us.
