Ukraine and its Western partners have made headway in talks on future security guarantees to deter another Russian invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
In an interview with Poland’s PAP news agency, Zelensky said negotiations on the guarantees have “significantly advanced.” He described the European component as largely satisfactory—though not fully so—and rated its reliability at about 90% .
“Not everything suits us here either, but we’re 90% satisfied,” he said.
Zelensky stressed that the United States remains central to the architecture of these guarantees, calling for concrete commitments that are not just verbal but approved by the US Congress. For Kyiv, he said, it is crucial to understand how partners would act in the event of renewed Russian aggression.
European guarantees provide a strong foundation, he added, but do not yet eliminate all risks. Ukraine sees them as an important part of a broader system that includes the US.
Addressing parameters of a possible peace plan, Zelensky highlighted the armed forces, saying a working draft envisions a force of about 800,000 service members - the size he says Ukraine needs to defend itself and deter Russia.
Zelensky also renewed his thanks to the United States and President Donald Trump for efforts to end the war. At the same time, he said “Russian dictator Vladimir Putin” is not interested in a genuine peace and will not limit his ambitions to Ukraine—circumstances that, he argued, elevate Washington’s role.
