International Zelensky expects further progress in negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expects further progress in the negotiations with the Americans, Europeans and NATO representatives over the next few days in the struggle for security guarantees. "The most important thing is the security guarantees for Ukraine," said Zelensky in his evening video message broadcast in Kiev. "Politically, almost everything is ready, and it is important to clarify every detail of how the guarantees will work in the air, on land and at sea if we manage to end the war," he said.
01.01.2026, 19:39
SDA
At the meeting of national security advisors this Saturday (January 3) in Kiev, 15 countries, representatives of the EU and NATO had confirmed their participation. The American team will be connected online, said Selenskyj. On January 5, there will be talks at the level of the chiefs of staff, followed by a summit of the "coalition of the willing" on Tuesday. Ukraine is preparing for a productive meeting, said Zelensky.
Zelensky also reported on a telephone conversation with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who holds the EU Presidency for the next six months. "Ukraine's membership of the European Union is also a security guarantee, and we are also working towards membership," said Zelensky.
Selenskyj: Need money for weapons, missiles for air defense
The most important thing for Ukraine continues to be sufficient support from its partners. "Everything depends on this, above all the soldiers on the front line, all our defenders, our industry, our production, weapons production," said Selensky. The country needs missiles for air defense, money for weapons, drones, technology - "for everything that is necessary".
Selensky also reported on a visit to Turkey by his chief negotiator, Rustem Umjerov, with the aim of resuming prisoner exchanges. "We need this support to bring our Ukrainians home from Russian captivity," said Selensky. After much activity in 2025, the exchanges had recently come to a standstill.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's war of aggression for almost four years with Western help. The peace negotiations initiated by US President Donald Trump have been running intensively for weeks, but there is no end to the war in sight. Russia is also absent from the next meetings announced by Selenskyj.
