Zelensky says security guarantees for Ukraine to be worked out within 10 days

KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug 19 after his meeting with US President Donald Trump and European leaders that security guarantees for Kyiv will likely be worked out within 10 days.

“Security guarantees will probably be ‘unpacked’ by our partners, and more and more details will emerge. All of this will somehow be formalised on paper within the next week to 10 days,” Mr Zelensky said at a broadcast press briefing after his meetings.

Mr Trump told Mr Zelensky on Aug 18 that the

US would help guarantee Ukraine’s security

in any deal to end Russia’s war there, though the extent of any assistance was not immediately clear.

“It is important that the United States is sending a clear signal that it will be among the countries helping to coordinate and will also be a participant in the security guarantees for Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky said. “I believe this is a major step forward.”

Although a peace deal appeared far from imminent after the meetings in Washington, Mr Zelensky said his Aug 18 meeting with Mr Trump was his “best” so far.

He also said Ukraine was ready to meet Russia in “any format”, and that territorial issues would be discussed on a bilateral level with Russian President Vladimir Putin – but no dates for a possible meeting with Moscow have been scheduled yet.

“The question of territories is something we will leave between me and Putin,” Mr Zelensky said.

He added that a part of security guarantees for Ukraine is a package of US weapons, “which primarily includes aircraft, air defence systems”, among others.

“There indeed is a package with our proposals worth US$90 billion (S$115 billion),” Mr Zelensky said.

“And we have agreements with the US President that when our export opens, they will buy Ukrainian drones. This is important for us.” REUTERS