Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Thursday that the text of a bilateral security guarantees agreement between Ukraine and the United States is essentially ready for finalization at the highest level with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Security guarantees have been a key priority for Ukraine as a cornerstone of any post-war settlement. Kyiv has sought commitments from the U.S. and other Western allies to provide aid in the event of a future Russian invasion.
Recent Negotiations in Paris
This week, Ukrainian and U.S. envoys, along with representatives from a coalition of Ukraine’s allies, held negotiations in Paris to resolve remaining disagreements in a broader peace framework. The U.S. is working to finalize this framework with Ukraine before presenting it to Russia.
On Tuesday, the U.S. formally endorsed the concept of providing security guarantees to Ukraine for the first time.
Zelenskyy stated in a post on X: “The bilateral document on security guarantees for Ukraine is now essentially ready for finalisation at the highest level with the president (Trump).”
He noted that meetings on Wednesday in Paris addressed complex issues in the framework aimed at ending the nearly four-year war, with Ukraine presenting its proposed solutions.
Following Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Wednesday, Zelenskyy urged greater pressure on Russia. He argued that a strong response now is essential to demonstrate the credibility of future security guarantees.
Shifting U.S. Role and Remaining Challenges
Under the Trump administration, the U.S. has positioned itself as a broker seeking agreement from both Ukraine and Russia, with plans to involve Moscow in the negotiated deal.
Zelenskyy has indicated that the overall peace framework is approximately 90% agreed upon. However, difficult issues persist, including control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and Russian demands for Ukraine to cede strategically important territory in eastern Ukraine, which Russia has not fully captured despite nearly four years of conflict.
“We understand that the American side will engage with Russia, and we expect feedback on whether the aggressor is genuinely willing to end the war,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Discussions on Post-War Recovery
Negotiating teams also addressed documents related to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and economic development. The World Bank estimated last year that the cost of Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery would reach $524 billion. The Trump administration has emphasized potential economic benefits and privileged access for U.S. interests in post-war Ukraine.
