Main image: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 13, 2025. EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP
An understanding of the security guarantees framework for Ukraine will be presented within 7–10 days.
This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a conversation with journalists yesterday.
“We want to gain an understanding of the security guarantees framework within 7–10 days and, based on that understanding, hold a meeting in a trilateral format (referring to 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 then we all agreed that, in any case, we are working on security guarantees, obtaining this approximate infrastructure—similar to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. And what we have today is political support for this,” Zelensky said, summarizing the Washington talks.
Regarding security guarantees from the “Coalition of the Willing,” Zelensky noted that he cannot yet specify how many countries are ready to deploy their military to Ukraine.
“We do not know how many countries are ready for boots on the ground. We know that in the Coalition of the Willing there are 30 countries potentially considering their participation in security guarantees. Some may provide boots on the ground. Some are ready to provide air defense. Some will cover the skies or patrol for a certain period using the appropriate aircraft. Some, I am sure, will only be ready to provide funding, because of neutrality or constitutional status. What matters is that these countries—including Japan and Australia—are present and ready. We do not yet know exactly what they will provide, but it is important that they are involved. A little time and we will have an approximate understanding,” the President said.
He emphasized that, in any case, the main contingent is Ukrainian.
“The Ukrainian army needs weapons and salaries. And if the number of countries I mentioned participates, they may then provide Ukraine with financial support and weapons. That is very significant,” Zelensky added.
He also explained 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 its drone market. Third, this is not even about soldiers present there. This is about the Budapest Memorandum. China was among its signatories, and they 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 time, after February 24. That is why we need security guarantees only from countries that are ready to help us,” Zelensky concluded.
