Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv sees four parties as signatories to a future peace agreement — Ukraine, the United States, Russia and Europe. He added that European leaders will therefore also hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy made the remarks while answering journalists’ questions.
Speaking about security guarantees, the president said their primary element should be a strong Ukrainian army of around 800,000 personnel, with adequate equipment, weapons and salaries. He also said the United States would provide Ukraine with legally binding security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5, along with bilateral security guarantees from countries that are part of the Coalition of the Willing.
Zelenskyy stressed that Europe’s involvement in the negotiations is essential, as all sides will need to discuss the details of the agreement before it is signed.
He also said that the first documents of the peace plan could be ready for signing as early as January, although their approval will depend on the willingness of the parties involved. Zelenskyy added that he is ready to meet Putin in any format, noting that the key issue is whether the Russian side is prepared for such talks.