Zelenskyy: US signals willingness to join Ukraine’s security guarantees

Kyiv has received a positive signal from US President Donald Trump, indicating that the United States is prepared to participate in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, opening the door for other nations to join the initiative.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about this during a conversation with journalists, noting that prior to the Washington meeting, the US had not been part of Ukraine’s security guarantors, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media.

“And now there are statements about their readiness to join,” he said.

Zelenskyy explained that the absence of US coordination had created uncertainty among European partners. “And I consider this to have been one of the main challenges. Because without the coordination of security guarantees for Ukraine by the United States, there was some uncertainty among our European colleagues. For example, one European country would say, ‘We are ready to do this.’ And there is a list of what that European country is willing to do. After this list, a ‘but’ would follow—if, for example, there was a US presence or coordination,” he said.

He emphasised that the positive signal from Trump and his team now provides momentum for other countries to confirm their participation. “And this opens the possibility for other countries that were willing to contribute to confirm their participation. Currently, the general staffs of key countries have already begun discussing what they are ready to provide. And some countries that were not previously involved will likely appear now,” Zelenskyy added.

The president also addressed the “boots on the ground” program, which involves deploying foreign military contingents as a security guarantor against Russian aggression.

“We do not know how many countries are ready for ‘boots on the ground.’ We know that within the coalition of willing nations, there are 30 countries that are potentially considering participation in security guarantees. Some may contribute boots on the ground. Some are ready to provide air defence. Some will cover the skies or conduct temporary aerial patrols with the appropriate number of aircraft. Some, I am sure, will only be ready to provide financial support, due to neutrality or constitutional constraints,” Zelenskyy said.

He highlighted the importance of countries that have already expressed readiness to participate in Ukraine’s security guarantees, naming Japan and Australia in particular.

“We do not yet know exactly what they will provide, but the important thing is that they are part of it. In a little while, we will have an approximate understanding. All these countries are important. Still, the main contingent is Ukrainian. The Ukrainian army needs weapons and salaries. And if there are as many countries as I mentioned, then Ukraine may receive financial support and weapons. That is a very significant contribution,” Zelenskyy emphasised.

By Tamilla Hasanova