Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined three core requirements for Ukraine’s security guarantees on Friday, specifying military support, NATO-level backing, and sustained sanctions against Russia as essential components of any post-war arrangement.

The framework reflects Ukraine’s escalating pressure on Western partners to provide concrete security assurances. Ongoing negotiations with the US and European leaders focus on defining exactly what protections Ukraine would receive and how they would deter future Russian attacks. 

Ukraine defines security architecture

Speaking at a press briefing on 29 August, Zelenskyy detailed the three “key blocks” that must underpin Ukraine’s security framework. 

The first centers on maintaining current military force levels and ensuring weapons supplies through Ukrainian, European, and American production capabilities.

The second pillar focuses on NATO-level agreements with partner countries, establishing their readiness to support Ukraine in case of renewed Russian aggression. 

The third component involves continued sanctions against Russia and the utilization of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.

Moscow unlikely to accept multilateral protection efforts

Earlier today, Russia signaled flat rejection of current Western security guarantee proposals, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claiming such arrangements would turn Ukraine into a “strategic provocateur” on Russia’s borders. 

Her statement that security guarantees “must take into account Russia’s security interests” effectively demands Moscow have veto power over Ukrainian defense arrangements.