Advances in Security Assurances Negotiations for Ukraine
In an interview with Reuters, Ukraine's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Kyslytsya, discussed the progress being made in negotiations on formalizing legally binding security guarantees with the United States and European allies.
Kyslytsya expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions, stating that Ukraine is making progress in securing these guarantees. However, he did not provide any new details about the progress in negotiations.
The minister also emphasized the need for a decision on whether Ukraine will have bilateral agreements with individual countries or a multilateral agreement among several European states. He mentioned that France, the United Kingdom, and a few smaller European countries have expressed a willingness to provide binding security guarantees for Ukraine, including the deployment of troops.
Discussions about these guarantees are taking place within a 'coalition of the willing' initiated by France and the UK, involving countries ready to support Ukraine outside formal NATO or EU frameworks. The exact details of these guarantees are still under negotiation and depend on U.S. involvement and troop deployment specifics.
Kyslytsya also highlighted the importance of cooperation with the US, as it ensures logistical and air support, as well as provides intelligence data. He implied that the time for bold actions in response to Russian aggression is now.
The minister also urged European politicians to explain to their voters why their well-being depends on Ukraine's ability to defend itself. He emphasized the importance of Europeans taking their security seriously and considered Europeans as the best friends of Kyiv.
Kyslytsya warned European allies that Russian dictator Putin will not stop his military aggression on the border of Ukraine. He reiterated his belief that the current intense period of exchanging views allows for a better understanding of who is ready and capable of providing security guarantees for Ukraine.
According to RBC-Ukraine, these statements were made in the interview with Reuters.
