Zelenskyy Says Security Framework Finalized, Emphasizes 2027 EU Membership Timeline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Sunday that a security guarantees document with the United States has been finalized and stands ready for formal signature. During a media briefing in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was conducting an official visit, Zelenskyy told reporters that the agreement is “100 per cent ready” and that authorities are now waiting for partner nations to establish a signing date. Following the signature, the agreement must undergo ratification in both the U.S. Congress and Ukraine’s parliamentary body.
The completion of this security document follows intensive trilateral discussions held over the weekend in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. These talks brought together Ukrainian, Russian, and American delegations in what Zelenskyy characterized as potentially the first trilateral format in quite a long time that included military representatives from all three countries alongside diplomatic officials. The inclusion of military personnel suggests that negotiations are delving into specific operational and strategic details rather than remaining at the level of general political principles.
While visiting Lithuania, Zelenskyy also emphasized Ukraine’s ambitious timeline for European integration, setting 2027 as the goal for achieving full European Union membership. He characterized EU accession as an “economic security guarantee” that would complement military security assurances being negotiated with the United States. This comprehensive strategy of pursuing simultaneous military and economic integration with Western institutions represents Ukraine’s vision for ensuring long-term stability and prosperity through multiple forms of Western institutional connection.
However, the Ukrainian president acknowledged that substantial disagreements continue to divide Ukrainian and Russian positions on fundamental matters. Most significantly, the question of territorial integrity remains a critical sticking point, with Zelenskyy firmly stating that respect for Ukraine’s territorial boundaries “must be respected” in any settlement. This position is fundamentally at odds with Russian demands that have been communicated through various channels, including recent extensive talks between President Putin and American envoys. The Kremlin maintains that any peace deal must include Ukrainian troop withdrawal from eastern territories that Russia has illegally annexed but has not fully captured through military means.
The negotiation process continues with another round of talks scheduled for February 1 in the United Arab Emirates. U.S. officials have revealed that recent Abu Dhabi discussions covered an extensive agenda, addressing both military arrangements and economic matters, and even exploring the possibility of implementing a ceasefire before reaching a final comprehensive peace agreement. Among the complex issues that remain unresolved is the development of an agreed framework for overseeing and operating the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian occupation and is Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Zelenskyy noted that while the United States is actively seeking compromise solutions, he emphasized that all parties must be prepared to make concessions if peace is to be achieved.