Ukraine Nears Security Guarantee Plan Ahead of High-Level Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that security guarantees for Ukraine, developed in cooperation with the United States and European partners, will be ready in the coming days. These guarantees aim to be legally binding and robust, unlike previous agreements such as the Budapest Memorandum, focusing on strengthening Ukraine's Armed Forces, defense industry investments, and including an analogue of NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of international pressure on Russia, which continues its attacks and shows no intention of peace, and highlighted the importance of high-level diplomatic meetings to address all issues. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed solidarity and discussed ways to increase Dutch involvement in Ukraine's security and defense projects. Andriy Yermak, head of Zelenskyy's office, expects the first drafts of the security guarantees to be ready soon and confirmed ongoing consultations at high defense and security levels. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy stressed Ukraine's readiness for constructive steps toward peace, while maintaining that any negotiations must align with Ukrainian law and public opinion opposing territorial concessions.