Zelenskyy: Peace can only be result of well-considered diplomacy, clear security guarantees

Peace can only be the result of well-considered diplomacy and absolutely clear security guarantees, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a speech to the Support Ukraine summit, held on February 24 to mark three years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“First. The war is being waged against Ukraine, and therefore Ukraine must be at the negotiating table. Together with Europe,” Zelenskyy said.

Russia’s strategic target is Europe itself, the European way of life, and therefore Europe’s security and Europe’s future cannot be decided without Europe, he said.

“Ukraine and Europe, together with America – we must be at the negotiating table, opposite Russia, so that the necessity of peace is not drowned out once again by promises of ‘normalization’, ‘reset’, or ‘reconciliation’,” he said

“Second. The end of the war must begin with steps that restore trust in the very situation, because there is no confidence in Russia.

“And we need a situation in which peace is being discussed. Real situation. And right now, such a step could be the release of prisoners – thousands, namely, thousands of people who are being held in Russia, some of whom have been detained not just since 2022, but much earlier – since 2014.”

Russia must release Ukrainians. Ukraine is ready for an exchange of all for all, and this is a fair option to begin with, Zelenskyy said.

“Third. Ukraine and many around the world assert that Nato is now the simplest, cheapest, and most reliable way to guarantee peace and security in Europe. And this is truly the case.”

It is already a fully developed and effective system of security guarantees that has been working for decades and has prevented the outbreak of war even where there is a border between Nato and Russia, he said.

“And this is a long border. We must speak honestly – Ukraine deserves not only membership in the EU but also the security guarantees that Nato provides.

“And if Nato membership remains closed to Ukraine, to our people, we will have no choice but to build Nato in Ukraine – in other words, to secure such funding, such contingents, and such defence production that will ensure guaranteed peace.

“Will we be able to do this ourselves? No, we won’t. No, and I am grateful to you all, I am grateful to our partners who are ready to help. Security guarantees are the key to peace, and the stronger they are, the longer peace will last,” he said.

“Fourth. We already have 28 bilateral security agreements with partners – almost all of those who are participating in today’s meeting.

“And these are very clear commitments that make both Ukraine and your countries stronger. These are defence, financial, and political matters that primarily work to prevent this war from expanding. And we need to increase what we have agreed upon bilaterally: more cooperation, more defence production, more financial stability, more technological advancements.”

By developing Ukraine’s air defence, we are creating the basis for a new European air shield, Zelenskyy said.

“Please, every commitment regarding air defence is critically important.”

And on this initial basis, we must create together an effective and sufficient system of guarantees – to ensure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and for all of Europe, he said.

“And fifth. We all see the turbulence that has started in global politics. But any challenges present opportunities,” Zelenskyy said.

“The preservation of freedom in Europe directly depends on our ability, on all of Europe’s ability to become independent, at the very least, in terms of security.|”

And never, never can Europe afford to fall behind in the global technological competition, he said.

“Now, unfortunately, there are moments when such a gap is observed. And only in unity, specifically as a united continent, can we overcome this gap.

“Not someone specifically for themselves, but Europeans together for Europe, and for the entire world. And all partners united for shared goals,” Zelenskyy said.

(Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine)

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