The peace plan discussed by the United States and Europe includes, to deter future Russian attacks against Ukraine, a more robust Ukrainian Kiev army, the deployment of European forces in the country and greater use of American intelligence. The New York Times revealed this, citing sources familiar with the draft.
Security guarantees discussed in Berlin
American and European diplomats who saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin signed two documents outlining security guarantees for Kiev.
The texts, which have not been made public, should be “the cornerstone of a broader agreement to reach a ceasefire” and convince Ukraine to cede territories and renounce entry into NATO.
A commitment similar to Article 5 of NATO
One of the two documents establishes general principles, with a commitment similar to the NATO Article 5 guarantee, in which all signatory countries undertake to come to the aid of any nation that is attacked.
The operational military document
The second part of the agreement, which American officials have described as a “military operational document,” goes into detail about how American and European forces will work with the Ukrainian military to ensure that Russia does not attempt another aggression.
The goal: a Ukrainian army of 800 thousand soldiers
The first priority is a plan to bring the Ukrainian army to a “peacetime level” of 800,000 soldiers, now around 900,000, with modern training and equipment, as a strong deterrent against Russia.
Building and maintaining such a force will require “sustained and significant support” for Ukraine, the willing stressed in Monday’s joint statement after the Berlin meeting.
European forces in western Ukraine
The document also contains details of a European-led military force to assist Ukraine by operating within the country to secure the skies and seas. Which countries are ready to send soldiers has not been revealed, but Zelensky said yesterday that many have committed to doing so.
The contingent will be stationed in western Ukraine, far from any ceasefire lines, again as a deterrent against any future Russian aggression.
The fear of Kiev and binding guarantees
Zelensky’s never hidden concern remains that the “security guarantees” will end up being forgotten, as happened with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum with which Ukraine renounced its nuclear arsenal in exchange for the signatories’ commitment not to attack it. Commitment betrayed by Russia.
American and European officials have said the new security guarantee will be legally binding, subject to each country’s procedures. Trump himself agreed to obtain Senate ratification.
The next steps and the pressure on Moscow
The two documents, Zelensky also announced, will be finalized in the next few days and should be delivered to Russia.