Agreement on security guarantees with the US ready to be signed — what it means for Ukraine
After months of negotiations, Washington is awaiting an official response from Moscow: whether partners' words will translate into effective security guarantees hinges on that reply.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
January 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Briefly
The negotiation team is returning to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that an agreement on providing security guarantees from the United States is ready to be signed at the highest level — and that the key next step is now a response from Russia.
What exactly was agreed
According to the president, during a series of meetings they discussed not only the mechanics of the guarantees themselves but also a package for Ukraine’s recovery and economic development. Details were, in particular, discussed in a trilateral format with representatives of the US and the EU; some issues require closed-door consultations.
"The agreement on security guarantees with America, we believe, is ready to be signed at the highest level"
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
The president also held a conversation with Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and expects a full report from the negotiation group with details, including those "that cannot be discussed over the phone."
Context and consequences
The decision has a practical dimension: the form of the guarantees will determine not only diplomatic image but also concrete instruments of protection and reconstruction. Analysts at international centers note that further dynamics will be determined by two factors — Russia’s reaction and Western partners’ readiness to transform declarations into mechanisms.
"The American side must receive an answer from Russia: what they are prepared to do there and whether they can actually end the war. We believe that only pressure on Russia can resolve this."
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine
Pressure instruments are already mentioned in open sources: Bloomberg reported (December 17, 2025) that the US could impose new sanctions if Russia rejects the peace agreement. Additionally, on January 6 Ukraine, France and the United Kingdom signed a declaration of intent regarding the possible deployment of multinational forces — this creates a political and military context for implementing the guarantees.
What next
The key scenario is simple: if Moscow rejects the proposal — sanctions and multinational pressure options may follow; if it agrees — the way opens to legal arrangements and the start of reconstruction. At the same time, it is important that declarations are turned into signed, adequately resourced mechanisms.
A question for partners and society: will there be enough political will and promptness to turn readiness into signed contracts and real guarantees? The answer will determine not only the legal form of the agreement but also real security for Ukraine.
