U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance stated that Russia is likely to participate in negotiations regarding the end of the war and security issues. He emphasized that security guarantees will not be discussed until hostilities cease; however, the involvement of the Russian side in such negotiations is inevitable.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The U.S. Position and Europe’s Role in Ensuring Ukraine’s Security
According to Vance, the United States insists on the necessity of security guarantees for Ukraine that will protect the country from potential future attacks. He also noted that European states will play an important role in shaping these guarantees, as the security of Ukraine is crucial for the entire region.
“We are not talking about security guarantees until the war is over. And, of course, the Russians will be part of the conversation about ending this war. So, of course, they will have a stake in this. They will talk about it. This does not mean they will have troops on Ukrainian territory, but how can you reasonably ensure security guarantees without talking to the Russians about what will be necessary to end the war?” he stated.
European Initiatives and Statements from the Russian Side
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that discussing security guarantees without Russia’s participation is a “road to nowhere,” and stated that Moscow will not agree to resolve collective security issues without involving the Russian Federation.
The issue of security guarantees for Kyiv remains central in negotiations aimed at ending the war. Discussions on this matter intensified following the recent meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump, along with European leaders in Washington.
As part of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” the United Kingdom proposed to deploy Typhoon fighters in western Ukraine and provide a brigade of 3,000 to 5,000 troops to train Ukrainian forces. France, Canada, and Australia are also considering sending troops to western Ukraine. Czech President Petr Pavel expressed the country’s readiness to join a peacekeeping mission, while Lithuania confirmed its intention to send troops for a potential peacekeeping operation.
European leaders recently issued a joint statement emphasizing that a peace agreement should not limit the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or its cooperation with other countries. At the same time, it was noted that Russia has no veto power over Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration path or its membership in NATO and the EU.