Ukraine's Big Plans: Security, Money, and Peace Talks

Key Topics: Security, Economic Recovery, and Military Support

Kyiv recently hosted a crucial meeting with key allies to strategize on maintaining Ukraine's safety and rebuilding the nation post-conflict. The discussions centered around three primary areas:

Security Promises
Economic Recovery
Military Support

Participants

The talks involved national security advisers from various European countries, Canada, and representatives from the European Council, European Commission, and NATO. Ukraine's top envoy, Rustem Umerov, initiated the event by outlining the three main topics:

Reviewing Documents
Planning Economic Recovery
Discussing Military and Political Issues

Economic Recovery: A Massive Undertaking

The economic aspect of the talks was significant. Ukraine's Prime Minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, estimated that rebuilding the country over the next decade could cost around $800 billion. The funds would be sourced from:

Public funds
Grants
Loans
Private investments

The focus areas include:

Infrastructure
Energy
Industry
Education

Peace Referendum: A Potential Path Forward

David Arakhamiya, a key lawmaker, mentioned that Ukraine might finalize a referendum on peace proposals by the end of February. He proposed that the referendum should coincide with a presidential election to maximize voter turnout. However, this can only proceed once a ceasefire is established.

Security Guarantees: A Critical Priority

Security guarantees were a major focus of the discussions. Kyiv and its European allies aim to establish strong deterrents to prevent future Russian attacks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been negotiating a bilateral security deal with the U.S., seeking guarantees that could last up to 50 years. Currently, the proposals are for 15 years with the option to extend.

Diplomatic Efforts and Future Meetings

Zelenskyy also had a call with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, discussing plans to deploy a multinational force in Ukraine post-ceasefire. Additionally, leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, a group supporting Ukraine, are set to meet in Paris on January 6th. Zelenskyy mentioned preparations for meetings in the U.S. as well.

The Broader Context

These diplomatic activities occur as former U.S. President Donald Trump aims to end the war in Ukraine, a conflict that Russia initially expected to be quick but has dragged on for nearly four years. Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no signs of backing down, adhering to his demands, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from certain areas.