According to President, when Russia raises the issue of security guarantees, it is unclear what threat it faces, as it was Russia that initiated aggression against Ukraine.
“They attacked us… And I don’t quite understand what guarantees an aggressor needs,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He also noted that Russia has no intention of ending the war and is using ultimatums to delay its conclusion.
“I think this way: a week ago, or two weeks ago, it doesn’t matter — Russia was where it is now, and has been. It does not want, and never wanted, and still does not want to end the war. It wants to issue ultimatums, and through those ultimatums, delay the possibility of ending this war,” Zelenskyy added.
Bloomberg, citing a European official, reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement that permanent UN Security Council members, including Russia and China, could serve as guarantors for Ukraine effectively derailed Moscow’s negotiations with the U.S.
Lavrov claimed that Moscow “supports” providing security guarantees to Ukraine, but that discussing the process without Russia is a “road to nowhere.”
Ukraine security guarantees
The U.S. and European countries are urgently developing security guarantees for Ukraine to pave the way for a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin.
According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders agreed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a special task force. It will include national security advisers and NATO representatives tasked with preparing a draft of security guarantees for Ukraine.
Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that about 10 countries are ready to send troops to Ukraine as part of a security guarantee.
After Zelenskyy and European leaders met with Trump in the U.S., Russian officials began publicly rejecting Europe’s proposals for security guarantees for Ukraine within the framework of a potential peace deal, according to a report from the Institute for the Study of War.
On Aug. 21, Reuters, citing sources familiar with the Kremlin’s position, reported that Russia is demanding Ukraine renounce the Donbas, give up NATO membership, maintain neutrality, and not host foreign troops on its territory.