Ukraine needs concrete security guarantees before it can start any peace talks with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
In an interview with several Polish news outlets, the Ukrainian leader claimed that ending the armed conflict without assurances about future defense arrangements could lead to renewed Russian aggression in the future.
He also said the fighting will not end without diplomacy but added that Kyiv is not currently engaged in any peace negotiations—covert or otherwise—with Moscow.
However, both sides “will have to make concessions to end the war,” according to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who is set to lead on foreign policy within the incoming Trump administration.
Speaking at his confirmation hearing in Congress in Washington, Rubio suggested that Moscow’s concession would be to not take more territory from Ukraine, while Kyiv’s would be to give up areas under Russian occupation, the Kyiv Independent website reported.
As the full-scale war between the two countries nears its third anniversary, Zelenskyy has been pressured to ready himself for discussions with his Russian counterpart, especially given the American President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to end the conflict within hours of taking office on January 20.
Allies, including Poland’s Donald Tusk, have echoed the Ukrainian president’s call for strong security guarantees, including further integration with the European Union and NATO.
He also said the fighting will not end without diplomacy but added that Kyiv is not currently engaged in any peace negotiations—covert or otherwise—with Moscow.
However, both sides “will have to make concessions to end the war,” according to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who is set to lead on foreign policy within the incoming Trump administration.
Speaking at his confirmation hearing in Congress in Washington, Rubio suggested that Moscow’s concession would be to not take more territory from Ukraine, while Kyiv’s would be to give up areas under Russian occupation, the Kyiv Independent website reported.
‘Number one priority’
As the full-scale war between the two countries nears its third anniversary, Zelenskyy has been pressured to ready himself for discussions with his Russian counterpart, especially given the American President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to end the conflict within hours of taking office on January 20.
Allies, including Poland’s Donald Tusk, have echoed the Ukrainian president’s call for strong security guarantees, including further integration with the European Union and NATO.
“Ukraine must receive security guarantees. It’s the number one priority and everyone needs it, including [Poland],” Zelenskyy told Polish reporters.
Without such assurances, Russia could attack Ukraine again, he said, making reference to the invasion in 2022 coming just eight years after Moscow and its proxies took military control of parts of eastern Ukraine.
“I always ask about security guarantees because by just hanging up arms, we would simply be giving the Russians time to prepare for the next attack, just like what happened between 2014 and 2022,” Zelenskyy said.
“That’s why it’s important to know what kind of guarantees Ukraine will have, where NATO will be, where our arms will be, what kind of financial support we’ll have, and so on.”
Senator Rubio, Trump’s nominee for the influential role of secretary of state, echoed Zelenskyy’s assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to regroup so he can attack Ukraine again at a later date.
But he told American lawmakers that any peace deal would involve compromise on both sides.
“There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are too brave and fight too hard, and the country is too big. That's not going to happen,” Rubio said, quoted by the Kyiv Independent.
“It is also unrealistic to believe that somehow a nation the size of Ukraine… is going to push these people [Russian troops] all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion,” he added.
Ukraine has repeatedly said that it would not cede territory to Russia and recognize Moscow’s sovereignty over such areas.
With the incoming American president seen as less willing to spend on boosting Ukraine’s defense forces, several countries have floated ideas regarding post-war arrangements in Ukraine, including sending European troops into the country as a peace force.
At the same time, Zelenskyy has emphasized that the U.S. needs to maintain its crucial role in supporting Kyiv.
Russia’s foreign secretary said in December that the Kremlin was ready to “use any means not to allow them to succeed in what they call a strategic defeat of Russia.”
Without such assurances, Russia could attack Ukraine again, he said, making reference to the invasion in 2022 coming just eight years after Moscow and its proxies took military control of parts of eastern Ukraine.
“I always ask about security guarantees because by just hanging up arms, we would simply be giving the Russians time to prepare for the next attack, just like what happened between 2014 and 2022,” Zelenskyy said.
“That’s why it’s important to know what kind of guarantees Ukraine will have, where NATO will be, where our arms will be, what kind of financial support we’ll have, and so on.”
Rubio’s call for compromise
Senator Rubio, Trump’s nominee for the influential role of secretary of state, echoed Zelenskyy’s assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to regroup so he can attack Ukraine again at a later date.
But he told American lawmakers that any peace deal would involve compromise on both sides.
“There is no way Russia takes all of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are too brave and fight too hard, and the country is too big. That's not going to happen,” Rubio said, quoted by the Kyiv Independent.
“It is also unrealistic to believe that somehow a nation the size of Ukraine… is going to push these people [Russian troops] all the way back to where they were on the eve of the invasion,” he added.
Ukraine has repeatedly said that it would not cede territory to Russia and recognize Moscow’s sovereignty over such areas.
With the incoming American president seen as less willing to spend on boosting Ukraine’s defense forces, several countries have floated ideas regarding post-war arrangements in Ukraine, including sending European troops into the country as a peace force.
At the same time, Zelenskyy has emphasized that the U.S. needs to maintain its crucial role in supporting Kyiv.
Russia’s foreign secretary said in December that the Kremlin was ready to “use any means not to allow them to succeed in what they call a strategic defeat of Russia.”
