Ukraine war: first security guarantees, then Putin summit, Zelensky says
The Ukrainian president said a group of allies is working to establish a military coalition to support the guarantees, ideally within 10 days
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he could meet with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but only after his allies agree security guarantees for Ukraine to deter future Russian attacks once the fighting stops.
In comments released on Thursday, he also warned both sides were preparing for further fighting. Russia was building up troops on the southern front line and Ukraine was test-launching a new long-range cruise missile, he said.
Russia said on Thursday that Ukraine did not appear to be interested in “long-term” peace, accusing Kyiv of seeking security guarantees completely incompatible with Moscow’s demands.
US President Donald Trump is trying to end Russia’s three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine through talks with Zelensky and Putin.
While he has upended a years-long Western policy of isolating the Russian leader, he has made little tangible progress towards a peace deal.
“We want to have an understanding of the security guarantees architecture within seven to 10 days,” Zelensky said, in comments to reporters released for publication on Thursday.