Three years after the beginning of the Russian attack war, the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj called the United States and Europe for security guarantees for a possible future peace. Selenskyj again spoke in Kiev for a NATO meeting of Ukraine as the cheapest variant for the security of the country-and also offered his resignation in the event of admission to the alliance. “When it comes to peace for Ukraine, I am ready (to leave my post),” said the head of state at a press conference.
This Monday is the third anniversary of the invasion that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin started on February 24, 2022. There is currently great uncertainty in Ukraine about the change of course in the United States. So far the most important supporter for Kiev, the United States under President Donald Trump is now aiming for a dialogue with Russia and a quick end of the war.
The Russian President Putin, however, paid tribute to the fighting spirit and the will to win of his army at the national holiday of the Fatherland defender on Sunday in Moscow. He distinguished soldiers as a war hero and encountered the military in the Kremlin with champagne. Russian analysts of independent media had recently reported that at Putin’s army alone, at least 95,000 soldiers had fallen since the beginning of the war.
While Ukraine is emphasizing NATO, it is one of Russia’s war goals to prevent access to all circumstances. Selenskyj sees no other way than protection by the West against new Russian attacks. “You have to do the maximum to get a permanent and just peace for Ukraine,” said Selenskyj in Kiev. “This is only possible through a unit of all partners – we need the strength of all over Europe, the strength of America and the strength of everyone who wants a reliable peace.”
Ukraine’s accession to the EU is a kind of economic security guarantee. “When we talk about economic security guarantees, this is membership in the European Union for us, firstly. Secondly, this is the financing of the Ukrainian army with no less than 800,000 soldiers,” said the president. This applies as long as Ukraine is not included in the western military alliance NATO.
Selenskyj: No contracts with the USA at the expense of Ukraine
With the United States, Ukraine is still struggling for an agreement in which Washington wants to secure access to the country’s mineral resources. He agreed with US President Donald Trump that the war had to be ended as soon as possible, said Selenskyj. At the same time, he emphasized that there could be no agreements on the disadvantage of Ukraine.
The United States wanted to explain its support in retrospect in retrospect. “We cannot recognize financial aid as debts,” said Selenskyj. Ukraine could pay for further help. Industry experts, however, are skeptical whether there are raw materials of several hundred billion in Ukraine.
US Finance Minister Scott Bessent said that the possible raw material agreement does not include military security guarantees. However, if the United States invested in the future of Ukraine, this means an “economic security guarantee”, he said on US television. Besser was confident that Ukraine would sign Ukraine next week.
Kyiv speaks of the highest number of drone attacks so far
Selenskyj’s appeal for security guarantees fell on the day with the strongest drone attacks in the war. According to its own statements, the Ukrainian air defense recorded 267 Russian drone attacks. 138 missiles were shot down, reported air defense in Kyiv.
According to the local authorities, a man died in a Russian rocket attack in the South Ukrainian industrial city of Krywyj Rih. Five people were injured.
“The war continues,” Selenskyj also said with a view to the discussion about possible peace negotiations. Ukraine needs more flight defense. Last week alone, Russia attacked Ukraine with 1,150 drones, more than 1,400 sliding bombs and 35 rockets.
France’s President Macron near Trump
The security guarantees should also be about meetings in the United States in the new week. France’s President Emmanuel Macron at Trump is already expected on Monday. For him and other European politicians, the interaction with Trump is a balancing act: on the one hand, they want to assert their persistent support for Ukraine, on the other hand they do not offend Trump. The latter recently criticized Selenskyj; He strives for a meeting with Putin to end the war.
A few days later, the British Prime Minister Keir Strandmer is supposed to visit the United States. He insisted in advance for American protection for Ukraine. The country must have a say in negotiations on its future. Strong security guarantees are needed so that peace can be permanently, the Labor politician argued in a contribution to the newspaper “The Sun”. The United States should be part of this guarantee.
EU leadership travels to Kyiv on the anniversary
In Kiev itself, Selenskyj, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and numerous other top politicians expect a solidarity summit on the anniversary. The meeting is particularly important since Trump made it clear that Ukraine can no longer rely on extensive military aids from the United States. In Brussels, the EU Foreign Minister will also days, which formally also want to decide a new package with Russia sanctions.
EU Council President António Costa invited the EU head of state and government to an unscheduled meeting in Brussels in view of the drastic change of course in the US Ukraine policy of the United States. “We are experiencing a crucial moment for the security of Ukraine and Europe,” wrote Costa on the X.
Putin announces modern weapons for the army
Kremlin chief Putin promised the Russian armed forces after three years of attack war modern weapons and technology. Based on the experiences and requirements on the battlefield, the equipment of the soldiers has priority with new weapons, Putin said in a video message on the day of the Fatherland defender. “Today, in the middle of the rapid changes in the world, our strategic course for strengthening and developing the armed forces remains unchanged,” said Putin. He later knelt in Moscow on the grave of the unknown soldier.
Russia started the war on February 24, 2022 in the early morning. Including the Black Sea Peninsula Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, Russia is now checking around 20 percent of the Ukrainian area. Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that the incorporated areas even to be returned under peace negotiations.
