Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Sunday that negotiations have successfully produced a finalized security guarantees agreement between Ukraine and the United States. Speaking to journalists in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was conducting an official visit, Zelenskyy stated that the document is “100 per cent ready” and that Ukrainian authorities are now awaiting the establishment of a signing date by partner nations. The agreement will subsequently require ratification through the legislative processes of both countries, moving through the U.S. Congress and Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada.
This announcement follows two days of intense diplomatic engagement in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, where representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States participated in trilateral talks. According to Zelenskyy, these discussions were significant not only for bringing the three parties together but also for including military representatives alongside diplomatic personnel. This comprehensive participation from all three countries suggests that negotiations are delving into specific security arrangements and military-technical details necessary for implementing any future peace agreement.
While in Vilnius, Zelenskyy also articulated Ukraine’s ambitions for European integration, establishing 2027 as the target date for achieving full European Union membership. He characterized EU accession as an “economic security guarantee” that would work in tandem with military security arrangements being developed with the United States. This strategy of pursuing simultaneous integration with both American security structures and European economic institutions represents Ukraine’s comprehensive approach to ensuring its long-term stability, prosperity, and Western orientation.
However, Zelenskyy acknowledged that profound disagreements persist between Ukrainian and Russian positions on key issues. The question of territorial integrity remains at the center of these disputes, with the Ukrainian president firmly stating that respect for Ukraine’s territorial boundaries must be a fundamental component of any settlement. This stance conflicts with Russian demands that have been communicated through various channels, including recent marathon discussions between President Putin and American envoys. The Kremlin maintains that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from eastern territories that Russia has illegally annexed, even though Russian military forces have not succeeded in fully capturing these regions.
The negotiation process is set to continue with another round of talks scheduled for February 1 in the UAE. U.S. officials have revealed that the recent Abu Dhabi meetings addressed an extensive range of topics, including military arrangements, economic matters, and the potential for implementing a ceasefire before achieving a final comprehensive peace agreement. One particularly challenging issue that remains without resolution is the development of an agreed framework for the oversight and operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which remains under Russian occupation and is the largest nuclear facility in Europe. Zelenskyy acknowledged that the United States is actively seeking compromise positions, but he emphasized that all parties must demonstrate willingness to make concessions if the goal of ending the conflict is to be realized.