Zelenskyy Says US Security Guarantees for Ukraine Are “100% Ready” After Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is fully prepared to sign a long-awaited security guarantees agreement with the United States, describing the document as “100% ready.” His remarks come amid fragile, US-brokered peace negotiations with Russia that concluded in Abu Dhabi without a breakthrough.

Ukraine is now waiting for Washington to confirm the date and venue for the signing of the agreement, which Zelenskyy has repeatedly described as central to Kyiv’s long-term security and negotiating position nearly four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Speaking at a press conference in Vilnius, Zelenskyy underscored the importance of American backing as negotiations with Moscow continue under intense military pressure.

“For us, the United States’ security assurances are the most important security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said. “All the documents are ready, and we are now waiting for confirmation from our partners regarding the time and place for signing.”

He added that once signed, the agreement would move swiftly into the legislative phase. “The document will then be submitted for ratification to the US congress and the Ukrainian parliament,” Zelenskyy confirmed.

Security guarantees dominate peace negotiations

Zelenskyy’s comments followed two days of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi involving Ukrainian and Russian negotiators alongside US mediators. These discussions marked the first such trilateral engagement under Washington’s proposed framework aimed at ending the war.

While no agreement was reached, both Kyiv and Moscow expressed willingness to continue dialogue. Zelenskyy suggested that the talks had helped narrow some differences, even though fundamental disagreements remain.

“Problematic issues and the US 20-point plan are being discussed in Abu Dhabi. There used to be many difficult points, but today there are fewer,” Zelenskyy said, indicating modest progress.

However, he was clear that the gap between the two sides is still wide. According to Zelenskyy, Russia is demanding that Ukraine cede eastern territories that Moscow has failed to fully capture militarily—conditions Kyiv continues to reject outright.

“Russia’s and Ukraine’s positions are fundamentally different,” Zelenskyy stated. “All sides, including the Americans, must be ready for compromises. The Americans are trying to find a middle ground.”

More talks expected despite no immediate deal

Despite the absence of a breakthrough, further negotiations are expected. US officials indicated that additional talks could take place in Abu Dhabi next Sunday, expressing cautious optimism about the tone of discussions so far.

“We saw a lot of respect in the room between the parties because they were genuinely trying to find solutions,” a US official told Reuters. “We went into very granular detail, and we believe that next Sunday could be another step toward bringing this deal to its final conclusion.”

A spokesperson for the UAE government confirmed that Ukrainian and Russian delegations held a rare in-person meeting, during which they addressed “outstanding elements” of the US peace framework. The spokesperson also mentioned the possibility of future meetings in Moscow or Kyiv, ahead of any potential summit involving Russian President Vladimir putin, President Zelenskyy, and US President Donald Trump.

Russian strikes overshadow diplomatic efforts

Even as diplomacy continued, Russia intensified its military campaign. Overnight missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv knocked out power across large parts of the country, leaving more than one million people without electricity during sub-zero temperatures.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha condemned the attacks, accusing Moscow of acting in bad faith while negotiations were underway.

“This barbaric attack once again proves that Putin’s place is not at the Board of Peace, but in the dock of a special tribunal,” Sybiha wrote on X. “His missiles struck not only our people, but also the negotiating table.”

As Ukraine balances battlefield pressure with fragile diplomatic efforts, Zelenskyy’s announcement on US security guarantees highlights Kyiv’s push for concrete, long-term commitments from its allies—commitments it views as essential to any sustainable peace.