Ukraine’s Security and Peace Agreement

Iruni Kalupahana JadeTimes Staff

I. Kalupahana is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Russia-Ukraine war

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Image Source: Reuters

Ukraine’s Pre-2014 Borders

The idea of returning Ukraine to its pre-2014 borders has been deemed unrealistic in ongoing peace negotiations. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently stated that the dream is an illusion in the peace proposal presented by President Trump. The U.S. administration does not support Ukraine's entry into NATO as part of the solution. Instead, a stable peace in Ukraine would involve strong security measures provided by European and non European troops in an operation outside NATO's collective defense mandate. The U.S. made it clear that it will not deploy troops in Ukraine, and European nations should assume the primary role of providing assistance, both lethal and nonlethal.

Challenges in Ensuring Ukraine’s Security

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized that Europe cannot provide security for Ukraine without the aid of the U.S. The military strength of Russia has increased by leaps and bounds year after year, and it is difficult for troops from Europe alone to ward off any incoming conflicts. Without the help of NATO or direct security guarantees from the U.S., Ukraine remains vulnerable to attacks from outsiders. In these situations, having a reliable security guarantee is one of the greatest challenges of the peace process.

Russia as the Sole Security Guarantor

The only nation capable of providing security guarantee to Ukraine is Russia. Ukraine, having lost ground in the war, will finally have to sign a ceasefire or peace agreement with Russia. However, to make the agreement stick requires a strong guarantor. America cannot provide direct security guarantees due to the potential of escalating tensions into a nuclear war. Russia remains the sole realistic option to ensure Ukraine's security, though with terms that Ukraine will need to accept. This reality has dictated Ukraine's geopolitical position and will continue to do so in the future.