© EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT The basis for security guarantees for Ukraine has already been developed.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that during a conversation with US President Donald Trump and European partners, ways to force Russia to end the war were discussed.
“We had a long and substantive conversation with President Trump. The main issue is how to increase pressure on Russia to force it to make peace. This is primarily about tough steps, including economic ones, which should deprive the Kremlin's war machine of resources and funding,” Zelensky said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The parties also paid attention to strengthening Ukrainian air defense. Zelensky noted that Ukraine is counting on the PURL program, and also agreed with Trump to continue contacts in this direction.
According to the president, there are already significant developments regarding future security guarantees for Ukraine. “We actually have an understanding of the basis on which real guarantees can be built. Our teams have worked hard – both political advisors and military ones,” he emphasized.
Zelenskyy separately emphasized that Europe's defense-industrial capacities are not working efficiently enough and it is necessary to increase the pace of production. At the same time, he recalled that almost 60% of the weapons used by the Ukrainian military are already manufactured in Ukraine.
“Our enterprises have great potential, but it is not fully utilized due to lack of funds. We can and must help European countries establish their own production, because Ukrainians have already proven that they are capable of creating high-quality weapons,” the head of state concluded.
It should be noted that, following the results of the meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, the parties agreed on security guarantees for Ukraine. Bilateral, trilateral – the US, Russia and Ukraine – and quadrilateral – the European Union will probably join – negotiations have also been announced.
