Zelensky calls for “security guarantees” from the West and Moscow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called for “security guarantees” for his country from the West and Moscow, while Ukraine is facing the threat of a Russian invasion.

“Ukraine needs security guarantees, clear and tangible, immediately,” Zelensky told a joint news conference with his Polish and Lithuanian counterparts, Andrei Duda and Gitanas Nauseda, respectively.

“I believe that Russia should be among the countries that provide these clear security guarantees,” he said, adding that he had repeatedly suggested that he meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to defuse the current crisis.

V. Zelensky thanked his counterparts for their support and deliveries of military equipment to Kiev.

“We are united in the belief that the future of European security is currently at stake for us in Ukraine,” he said.

In a joint statement with the Ukrainian president, the presidents of Poland and Lithuania said that Ukraine deserved to be granted EU candidate status and that Poland and Lithuania would support it in doing so.

“We emphasize that, given the significant progress made in the implementation of the Association Agreement and internal reforms, as well as the current security challenges, Ukraine deserves candidate status for EU membership and Lithuania and Poland will support Ukraine in achieving this goal.” , refers to the declaration signed in Kiev by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Poland Andrei Duda and the Lithuanian President Gitana Nauseda.

The joint statement called on the international community to “immediately introduce” “strong” sanctions on Russia, including measures targeting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.

SOURCE: AMPE