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Zelenskyy pushes for ‘clear’ postwar security guarantees in Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants clear, practical security guarantees from Western allies for after the war, specifying what they would do if Russia attacked again. The issue is gaining urgency as peace discussions continue, with trilateral talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States planned for next week in Abu Dhabi.
Officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union met in Brussels to discuss security, reconstruction and funding for 2027, with the World Bank and BlackRock also represented. Zelenskyy said recent Democratic gains in US midterm elections could improve the prospects of additional assistance, including Patriot missile interceptors. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes caused power outages in several Ukrainian regions, and the EU cautioned that any agreement remained a long way off.
In short
- Zelenskyy wants written, practical postwar security commitments.
- Ukraine, Russia and the US plan talks in Abu Dhabi.
- Russian drone strikes caused power outages across Ukraine.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ukraine’s case is that any peace will be fragile unless allies make clear in advance what support they would provide after a renewed Russian attack. Specific commitments could deter further aggression, reassure Ukrainians and give them confidence to accept a negotiated settlement; planning now for defence and reconstruction may also make a lasting peace more achievable.
The case against
Allies may argue that firm guarantees made before negotiations conclude could limit their ability to respond to future events or draw them into a wider conflict. They may prefer commitments calibrated to the final agreement and each country’s legal and political constraints, while stressing that security arrangements need to be credible, sustainable and acceptable to all parties if they are to support peace.