Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made clear that while Europe’s support for Ukraine is vital, it cannot substitute for security guarantees from the United States. Speaking at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday, Zelenskyy said commitments from European countries and guarantees from Washington serve different purposes and should not be viewed as interchangeable.
Responding to a question from Euronews, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine values European backing but sees US involvement as essential to any credible long term security framework. He said Russia is actively trying to exclude the European Union not only from diplomatic negotiations over the war but also from discussions about future guarantees meant to deter renewed aggression.
According to Zelenskyy, Moscow’s efforts to sideline Europe are deliberate and strategic. He argued that Russia understands the importance of unity among Ukraine’s partners and is seeking to weaken that unity narrowing the circle of decision makers. “No matter what signals Russia sends, we understand that they would like to exclude the presence of Europeans. This cannot be done,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader emphasised that a legally binding commitment from European countries and security guarantees from the United States represent different layers of protection. European pledges, he explained, are crucial for regional stability and political solidarity, while US guarantees carry a distinct military and strategic weight that Ukraine believes remains indispensable.
Zelenskyy’s comments come at a time of intense diplomatic activity among Ukraine’s allies. European leaders reiterated their commitment to Ukraine earlier this week at a meeting in Berlin, where they vowed to support Kyiv in the event of any future Russian attack. The discussions included the possibility of military assistance as part of long term deterrence efforts.
Despite this, Zelenskyy cautioned against framing Europe as a replacement for the United States. He said Ukraine’s security depends on a broad coalition that includes both European nations and Washington, rather than an either or approach. For Kyiv, maintaining strong transatlantic unity is seen as a key factor in preventing Russia from exploiting divisions among Ukraine’s supporters.
Analysts note that the debate over security guarantees reflects wider uncertainty about the future architecture of European security. As the war continues, questions have intensified over how Ukraine can be protected once active fighting ends and what role different allies will play. While Europe has significantly increased military aid and political backing, the United States remains the largest single provider of security assistance to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also warned that excluding Europe from negotiations would undermine the legitimacy and durability of any future settlement. He argued that European countries have a direct stake in Ukraine’s security and in the broader stability of the continent, making their involvement unavoidable.
As discussions continue, Ukraine’s position appears clear. Kyiv welcomes European commitments and views them as essential, but it does not believe they can replace the security guarantees provided the United States. Instead, Zelenskyy is calling for a coordinated approach in which Europe and the US work together to ensure that Ukraine is protected against future threats and that Russia is deterred from launching another attack.
