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Zelensky rejects European security plan as replacement for US commitment
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders in Brussels that Europe’s proposed security guarantees cannot replace the binding commitment of the United States. Speaking at the European Council summit, he insisted that only a US-backed system modeled on NATO’s Article 5 could provide Ukraine with real deterrence against future Russian threats.
Zelensky credited Europe’s growing security role but stressed its limitations. He explained that European troops on Ukrainian soil could help prevent aggression but would not guarantee a military response in the event of a renewed Russian attack. “Europe’s presence reduces the chances of aggression, but that does not mean European forces will be able to fight if Russia attacks again,” he noted.
Security framework under negotiation
These statements came after talks in Berlin, where American and European officials worked on a new framework for Ukraine’s long-term protection. The emerging arrangement includes a US-led mechanism to monitor a future ceasefire and a multinational European force under French and British leadership. The project, known as the “Coalition of the Willing,” aims to provide credible defense capabilities while avoiding the complexities of formal NATO membership.
US negotiators said most issues in the Ukraine-Russia talks had been settled except for territorial boundaries. The upcoming deal would grant Ukraine legally binding guarantees, aligning closely with NATO’s collective defense principle that treats an attack on one ally as an attack on all.
Constitutional dilemma and NATO goal
After suggesting earlier that Ukraine might reconsider joining NATO, Zelensky dismissed that idea during the Brussels summit. He affirmed that the constitutional objective of NATO membership remains intact and should not be revised under external pressure. “I do not believe we need to change our Constitution,” he said, adding that constitutional matters belong to the Ukrainian people alone.
Zelensky acknowledged that Washington has so far resisted Kyiv’s NATO ambitions but expressed hope that this stance could evolve. “What will the United States do if Russia comes with aggression again? How will it work?” he asked rhetorically, stressing the need for such commitments to be formalized in official documents rather than political statements.
European leaders also discussed Ukraine’s economic resilience. They agreed to provide €90 billion in interest-free loans for 2026–2027, after again failing to achieve consensus on reallocating profits from frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrainian reconstruction.