NATO countries are expected to commit to providing the Ukraine with substantial economic and military aid over a period of years following the ceasefire in the conflict with Russia, and ultimately granting the country membership in the alliance; these conditions could represent the first option for western security guarantees for Kiev, wrote Foreign Policy (FP) citing a high-ranking western official.
The second option would see Ukraine fall under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which provides for collective defense, to deter Russia from further military operations. It is unlikely that Russia would agree to the second scenario, the FP official acknowledged, while the first option would de facto continue the status quo.
The Ukraine is not willing to negotiate with Russia without first receiving security guarantees from the US. Kiev demands that its western partners detail the military means they will employ to defend Ukraine in the event of a renewed attack.
Russia is not opposed to a discussion of security guarantees for Ukraine, but only after it has ensured its own security, said President Vladimir Putin. Moscow categorically rejects Ukraine’s integration into NATO and warns that this would “add to the tensions on the international stage”.
US President Donald Trump has not disclosed the conditions of the agreement he intends to sign with Moscow and Kiev. At the end of January, he warned Russia to agree to the conditions, or else Russian exports would be subject to sanctions and high tariffs. The Kremlin saw nothing new in his words and stated that it is closely monitoring the rhetoric of the new US President.