Photo: EPA
The United States wants to sign a security guarantees agreement only at the end of the war, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking about negotiations with Washington, Zelenskyy said that all signals from the U.S. suggest Ukraine would receive security guarantees not before a ceasefire or the end of the war, but only after withdrawing its troops from Donbas. He made the remarks in response to comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had dismissed Zelenskyy’s earlier statements about U.S. conditions as untrue.
“Most of the iceberg is hidden, but believe me, I showed only a small part,” Zelenskyy said, stressing he was speaking frankly.
He emphasized that Ukraine wants to sign a security guarantees agreement before the war ends. However, according to him, the American side indicated that such an agreement would only be finalized at the moment the war concludes.
Zelenskyy added that the U.S. should not have concerns, as the guarantees would only take effect after approval by Congress—which would happen after the war. Nevertheless, he said Washington’s position is that the guarantees themselves would only be granted after Ukraine withdraws from Donbas, which he described as a current condition for ending the war.
At the same time, the president stressed that the United States is not pressuring Ukraine, describing the situation instead as part of the realities of the negotiation process.
“It may have been perceived as if the Americans are pressuring us to withdraw and only then provide guarantees. But I am not saying that they are pressuring us. I have never said that—neither publicly nor otherwise,” Zelenskyy noted.
