European leaders discuss security deal for Ukraine
European leaders are discussing a new security guarantee model for Ukraine, proposed by Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to a DW report citing Bloomberg.
The plan, a "NATO-lite" option, would not have the same collective defense obligations as Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. However, it would require countries with bilateral agreements with Ukraine to quickly agree on a response in the event of an attack. The agency wrote that options could include rapid and sustained defensive support, strengthening the Ukrainian military, economic aid, and new sanctions against Russia. It is not yet clear whether the plan involves sending European troops to Ukraine, Bloomberg noted.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told the newspaper La Repubblica that Meloni’s idea is that "NATO, as a defensive alliance, could provide protection for a foreign state, for example, Ukraine." He added that "alternatively, some countries could take on such obligations." Crosetto said a final mechanism would be chosen in time but that "without a doubt, deterrence will be more effective with NATO."
At the end of a summit in Alaska on August 16, Giorgia Meloni spoke about the "Italian idea of security guarantees, inspired by Article 5 of the NATO Treaty." AFP and Reuters, citing Ukrainian diplomatic sources, reported that Kyiv had received a proposal from Washington for "Article 5-like security guarantees, but without NATO." According to the sources, the proposal was supposedly "coordinated with Putin."
Yermak: Ukraine is working on military security guarantees
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Administration in Kyiv, wrote on X on Wednesday that Ukraine and its allies have begun "active work on the military component of security guarantees." He said that immediately after returning from Washington, he had a coordination phone call with national security advisors from Germany, Italy, France, the UK, Finland, as well as from the EU and NATO.
"Everything must be extremely concrete and effective to prevent a repeat of the aggression," Mr Yermak said, adding: "We remember the 'Budapest' mistake and decades of empty rhetoric."
He also said that Ukraine was developing a plan of actions in case Russia continued to stall the war and block agreements. "Ukraine is ready for any format of dialogue on a just conclusion of the war, and we are grateful to President Trump, everyone in America, and everyone in Europe for their support," he said. "The Russians must either take the necessary steps or face new, truly painful pressure from the world," Mr Yermak added.
Vance: The main burden falls on Europe
US Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News on Wednesday that "the biggest part of the burden" in ensuring Ukraine's security must fall on Europe, not the United States, "regardless of the form it takes." "It's their continent, it's their security," he said.
According to Politico, Washington will play a minimal role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. The newspaper writes that the US Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, has already informed NATO allies about this during consultations with military personnel from other alliance states.
Trump promised Kyiv security guarantees after the war
Donald Trump stated during negotiations with Mr Zelenskyy in Washington on August 18 that the United States would participate in providing security guarantees as part of a peace agreement to end Russia's war against Ukraine. The former US leader specified that while European countries are the "first line of defense," the US "would also help, providing significant security support." Mr Trump ruled out sending American troops to Ukraine but said the United States could support allies from the air.
On August 19, the former president also stated that Kyiv would have to give up its hopes of joining NATO and regaining Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. "Both options are impossible," he said.
According to Bloomberg, at an online meeting on August 19, European leaders discussed a plan to send British and French troops to Ukraine to secure a potential peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow. According to the data, about 10 countries, including the UK and France, expressed their readiness to participate in such a mission.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
