Zelenskyy: Powerful Security Guarantees for Ukraine Require US Involvement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that any security guarantees for Ukraine must include the participation of the US in order to be effective, adding that President-elect Donald Trump could play a pivotal role in ending the war.

Zelenskyy made the statement during an interview on January 2 on the national telethon, along with the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska.

According to Zelenskyy, a just peace for Ukraine must include “powerful, strong security guarantees,” with NATO being the best available option.

“We are fighting for this, and we will continue to fight. If not [without NATO], I wouldn’t want to offer an alternative. Clearly, any security guarantees without the US are weak security guarantees for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.

He cited Israel as an example of not being a NATO member but having security guarantees from the US and other countries, which have helped it defend itself.

The President added that Trump could play a pivotal role in ending the war and may help stop Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“Trump could be decisive. For us, this is the most important thing. He, his qualities, they are like that. He is capable of being decisive in this war. He is capable of stopping Putin, or more accurately, helping us stop Putin. He can do it,” Zelenskyy stated.

Zelenskyy reminded that he had already had several conversations with Trump.

“He, I believe, is strong and unpredictable. I would like his unpredictability to be primarily focused on Russia. I believe he truly wants to end the war. I believe this is true,” said Zelenskyy.

On December 20, an FT article emerged indicating that the new US administration is set to maintain support for Ukraine, with Trump’s team signaling a push for NATO members to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP while continuing military aid to Kyiv.