The head of NATO, visit to Kyiv for discussions about security guarantees: “We work together”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kiev on Friday where President Volodimir Zelenski is to have a discussions, announced by the presidential Chancellery Andri Iermak, quoted by Kyiv Independent.
The two officials were seen in Washington on Monday during a summit in which the Ukrainian president participated along with several European allies, including NATO leader and the head of the European Commission. The idea of security guarantees for Ukraine was advanced at this discussion in the US.
According to the Secretary General NATO, the Agreement on Security Guarantees will consist of two levels: the consolidation of the Ukrainian army and commitments from the US and Europe meant to discourage Russia in the event of a future aggression
“We are now working together-Ukraine, Europeans, the United States-to ensure that these security guarantees are at a level so Vladimir Vladimirovici Putin, in Moscow, never try to attack Ukraine,” Rutte said in a press conference.
What does security guarantees involve
The American publication Bloomberg reported on August 19 that the security guarantee package for Ukraine could be completed this week. One of the variants discussed is the sending of British and French troops to Ukraine, along with contingents from about 10 other countries.
The British newspaper The Times wrote that European countries want US President Donald Trump to send American fighters to Romania as part of the US security guarantees to end the Ukraine.
Thus, according to the information obtained by The Times, high-ranking military managers in Europe discussed the F-35 aircraft in Romania, where NATO builds its largest air basis in Europe, to discourage Russia to invade again.
According to Rutte, the discussions about the development of foreign troops in Ukraine as part of the security guarantees are in progress, but “it is too early to say what the result will be.”
“It is still too early to say who could provide troops, who will contribute with information, who will be present at sea and who in the air,” added President Zelenski.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on August 18 that guarantees will not involve accession to NATO, but will be based on a strong Ukrainian army, supported by the commitments of the allies in the “Coalition for will”, which includes over 30 countries including Romania.
European officials told Kyiv Independent on August 19 that a series of meetings between the Coalition member countries could take place in the coming days to establish the details.
Trump told Fox News on August 19 that Washington could provide air support as guarantees, but has excluded American terrestrial troops.
Moscow rejects security guarantees that are established in its absence
Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that security guarantees for Ukraine cannot be discussed without Russia's participation.
“Ukraine needs security guarantees, so that we, our children and grandchildren we can be sure that Russia will not attack us. These are security guarantees against an aggressor,” Zelenski said in a press conference, in response to Lavrov's remark.
Also, Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that “no meeting is planned” between Russia and Ukraine's presidents, despite the United States attempts to organize such a summit.
“No meeting is planned,” Lavrov said in an interview for an NBC show.
US President Donald Trump has fueled expectations for a quick summit between the two leaders, saying that both have agreed to meet, after receiving President Volodimir Zelenski with Vladimir Putin in a summit hosted by Alaska.
