Zelenskyy Says U.S. Protection Deal Complete, Describes Fundamental Differences With Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced from Vilnius on Sunday that Ukraine has completed negotiations on a security guarantees agreement with the United States. Speaking to journalists during his visit to Lithuania’s capital, Zelenskyy characterized the document as “100 per cent ready” and explained that Ukrainian officials are now waiting for partner countries to establish a date for the formal signing ceremony. After signing, the agreement will require ratification through legislative processes in both Washington and Kyiv.
This development comes after two days of significant trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi that brought together representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. According to Zelenskyy, these discussions were noteworthy for including military officials alongside diplomatic personnel from all three countries. He suggested this might be the first such comprehensive trilateral format in considerable time, indicating that negotiations are now addressing specific security arrangements and operational details rather than remaining limited to general diplomatic statements.
Zelenskyy’s Lithuanian platform also allowed him to articulate Ukraine’s European integration ambitions, specifically targeting 2027 for achieving full European Union membership. He described EU accession as providing an “economic security guarantee” that would work in tandem with military security arrangements being developed with the United States. This dual approach reflects Ukraine’s strategy of pursuing comprehensive Western integration through both security and economic institutions, creating multiple layers of connection to ensure long-term stability and prosperity.
Despite progress on the U.S. security agreement, Zelenskyy acknowledged that fundamental disagreements continue to divide Ukrainian and Russian positions. Most critically, the question of territorial integrity remains a major sticking point, with Zelenskyy insisting that respect for Ukraine’s borders “must be respected” in any settlement. This position conflicts directly with Russian demands that have been articulated through various channels, including recent marathon talks between President Putin and U.S. presidential envoys. Moscow maintains that any peace deal must include Ukrainian military withdrawal from eastern territories that Russia has illegally annexed, despite not having achieved full military control over these regions.
Further negotiations are scheduled for February 1, when delegations will return to the United Arab Emirates for continued discussions. U.S. officials have indicated that the recent Abu Dhabi meetings covered a broad range of topics, including military matters, economic considerations, and even the potential for implementing a ceasefire before finalizing a complete peace agreement. Among the unresolved challenges is developing an acceptable framework for the oversight and operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian occupation and is Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Zelenskyy noted that while the United States is actively working to find compromise solutions, achieving peace will require all parties to demonstrate willingness to make difficult concessions.