US security guarantees for Ukraine will be considered in Congress, and part of the document will not be published, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a meeting with Foreign Ministry officials on the occasion of Diplomatic Service Day. The text of his speech was published on the Ukrainian leader's Telegram channel.
According to Zelensky, the proposed documents include a document on security guarantees between Ukraine, Europe and the United States, as well as a separate agreement between Kiev and Washington on bilateral security guarantees.
„They should be considered in the US Congress, with some details and annexes classified. And all this looks quite promising today. But for now, this is the work of our military. It is important that this is the work of both us and the United States. This shows that we are very close to achieving a tangible result“, said the Ukrainian president.
The ratification of the security guarantees document in the US Congress will distinguish this agreement from the Budapest Memorandum, the Minsk agreements and other agreements, Zelensky said, adding that the term of the US security guarantees and the possibility of extending them in the same format in which they were adopted are being discussed.
Zelensky also listed other security guarantees desired by Ukraine:
An 800,000-strong Ukrainian army, the financing of which requires additional support from the allies, as well as a “deterrence package“, that is, arming the Ukrainian armed forces;
EU membership means primarily guarantees of economic security, but also defense programs;
“Coalition of the willing“ of 30 countries, some of which will provide their contingents to ensure security “in the sky, on the ground and at sea“.
The Ukrainian president notes that the details of this need to be discussed – a safeguard mechanism, provision of air defense forces, aviation and intelligence. Other member states, “neutral according to their internal sovereign constitutions“, will provide security in terms of “energy, finance, aid and asylum“.