Zelensky hails US security guarantee offer a day before Washington visit

KYIV: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday hailed the decision by Washington to offer security guarantees to Ukraine, speaking a day ahead of his meeting in Washington with US President Donald Trump.

“Security guarantees, as a result of our joint work, must really be very practical, delivering protection on land, in the air, and at sea, and must be developed with Europe’s participation,” he said on social media.

His message came after a video conference earlier Sunday of a group of Ukraine’s allies in Europe, including the leaders of Britain, France and Germany.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump hailed “big progress” on Russia, days after meeting his counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a high-stakes summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

But Zelensky said there is “no sign” Russia is agreeing to a three-way summit with Ukraine and the United States floated by Trump.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Europeans were going to ask Trump how far he would back Ukraine security guarantees.

Macron added that he did not think Putin wanted peace.

During a joint press conference with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels earlier in the day, Zelensky welcomed the idea of US security guarantees – but was less positive about Russia’s intentions.

“What President Trump said about security guarantees is much more important to me than Putin’s thoughts, because Putin will not give any security guarantees,” he told the press conference.

“Security means a strong army, which only Ukraine can provide. I believe that only Europe can finance this army.”

Read more: Macron, Merz, Meloni to join Zelensky for Trump talks

It’s a developing story. Details to follow