BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Senior national security advisers from across Europe arrived in Kyiv on Saturday for high-level talks on updated peace proposals, underscoring an intensified diplomatic effort led by the United States and its allies to bring an end to the nearly four-year war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The consultations come ahead of a series of meetings next week involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, as Kyiv seeks to align political, military and economic positions with its partners amid renewed negotiations over possible terms to halt the fighting.
Ukraine’s chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said the day’s agenda would focus on security arrangements, economic issues and the preparation of framework documents designed to guide future steps. Writing on social media, Umerov said the discussions also aimed to coordinate positions among partners and noted that representatives from Canada and NATO were participating alongside officials from European governments and institutions.
At the center of the talks is Ukraine’s proposal for long-term security guarantees, which officials say are being coordinated closely with European partners. According to Ukrainian negotiator Oleksandr Bevz, the plan envisions a multilateral framework agreement in which Ukrainian armed forces would remain the primary line of defense, supported by European-led troop deployments on Ukrainian territory and reinforced by what he described as U.S. “backstop” support.
Alongside security guarantees, economic reconstruction and stability remain a major pillar of Kyiv’s strategy. Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka said international partners have reached broad consensus on an economic support package valued at approximately $800 billion over the next decade. The proposed package is based on assessments by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Union and is intended to address war damage compensation, large-scale reconstruction, long-term economic stability and a $200 billion growth stimulus aimed at accelerating recovery.
Kachka said the plan is closely tied to reforms required for Ukraine’s eventual accession to the European Union, reinforcing Kyiv’s push to anchor its postwar future within European political and economic structures.
Economy Minister Oleksii Sobolev said specific funding sources for the package have yet to be finalized. However, he indicated that roughly $500 billion is expected to come from public grants and concessional loans, with further details to be negotiated over the coming two weeks.
The diplomatic activity follows Zelenskyy’s announcement earlier this week that Ukraine would hold meetings with officials from about 30 countries that support Kyiv’s efforts to end the war on terms it deems acceptable. The group, informally known as the Coalition of the Willing, is expected to play a key role in shaping both security guarantees and postwar reconstruction commitments.
Saturday’s gathering of national security advisers in Kyiv is to be followed by a leaders’ meeting in Paris on Tuesday, where heads of state and government are expected to review progress and consider next steps in the peace initiative.
As Ukraine pursues diplomacy abroad, Zelenskyy has also moved to reshape his government at home. On Saturday, he proposed Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal for the post of energy minister and first deputy prime minister, a shift that would place a senior political figure at the helm of a sector repeatedly targeted by Russian strikes. A day earlier, Zelenskyy appointed the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence as his new chief of staff, describing the selection of Gen. Kyrylo Budanov as part of an effort to sharpen the country’s focus on security, defense development and diplomacy.
The talks in Kyiv took place against the backdrop of continued Russian attacks. Regional authorities said the death toll from a Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Kharkiv on Friday rose to two, including a 3-year-old boy. In southern Ukraine, an overnight Russian drone attack on the Mykolaiv region damaged critical infrastructure and left several communities without electricity. Regional head Vitalii Kim said repair crews worked through the night to restore power and reported no casualties.
As fighting continues on the ground, Ukrainian officials hope the surge in diplomatic engagement will translate into concrete security guarantees and economic commitments, laying the groundwork for a negotiated end to the conflict while safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and long-term recovery.
Original article
Comments