Zelensky: Security guarantees for Ukraine must include land, air, and sea with European participation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the security guarantees his country seeks must be "very practical" and cover all military aspects, including protection on land, in the air, and at sea, with the necessity of European countries participating in their formulation. This came after a meeting of the "Alliance of the Willing" via video, on the eve of a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House that included European leaders.

Zelensky stated on social media: "The security guarantees, as a result of our joint work, must be very practical, providing protection on land, in the air, and at sea, and must be prepared with the participation of Europe."

For her part, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed that Trump agreed to provide security guarantees for Ukraine, indicating the readiness of the "Alliance of the Willing" _which includes the European Union and other supportive countries for Kyiv_ to contribute to these guarantees. She added that this step aims to enhance Ukrainian security in the face of any potential Russian attacks, within the ongoing discussions about a peaceful settlement to the war that has been ongoing since February 2022.

In turn, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala confirmed in a tweet on the "X" platform that the alliance leaders agreed during the meeting that "clear security guarantees for Ukraine from the United States and Europe will be extremely necessary for further negotiations" with Russia. He noted that stopping the killing remains the urgent priority, considering that tomorrow's meeting on Monday at the White House is an important step for coordination.

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of not wanting peace, saying: "Do I believe that President Putin wants peace? If you want my firm conviction, the answer is no. He wants Ukraine to surrender." Macron, who will participate in the Washington meeting, emphasized that peace must respect international law and Ukraine's sovereignty, warning that the proposed security guarantees for Ukraine must go beyond theoretical proposals. He stressed that "European security discussions cannot happen without Europeans," calling for their involvement in any future negotiations.

European Council President Antonio Costa supported the importance of solidarity between Europe and the United States to achieve sustainable peace, indicating via "X" that increasing pressure on Russia is necessary if a ceasefire is not reached.

The Washington meeting comes in the wake of recent U.S.-Russian talks in Alaska, where Trump, Zelensky, and European leaders are scheduled to discuss ways to end the war and enhance security guarantees for Ukraine outside the framework of NATO membership.