Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Monday that the United States had urged Ukraine to consider relinquishing claims to territories seized by Russia in return for security assurances.
“Our American friends are preparing security guarantees. But they said: first this exchange of territories, or something like that, and then security guarantees,” he said.
“I believe security guarantees must come first.”
Zelenskyy stated that while Ukraine remains open to compromise, it would not agree to terms that undermine its sovereignty. He stressed that any settlement must not leave the country vulnerable to further aggression.
“What compromise are we willing to make? Not one that will give Russia the opportunity to quickly recover and come again and occupy us,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader recalled the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, under which Kyiv surrendered nuclear weapons inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union in exchange for assurances of its security and territorial integrity.
“We gave up our nuclear and other weapons. Many planes – dozens. We gave them up and received guarantees of security, sovereignty and independence,” he said.
“In the end, we have none of those weapons, and we have no security guarantees. No one protected our independence.”
Zelenskyy added that any future security arrangement would require approval by the US Congress before taking effect.
“So what’s to be afraid of? I don’t understand. We can sign a document with leaders on security guarantees for Ukraine. This is a strong signal to people: America will help and support, and the Europeans will stand with you if Russia comes again,” he said.
“And then you can talk to the Ukrainians about what they are ready for.”
