Children and security guarantees for Ukraine are the main topics of negotiations in the United States, says Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk
19 August 2025, 12:58
The return of children and security guarantees for Ukraine are the two main topics of negotiations in Washington, according to Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk.
«It is good that the issue of returning abducted and deported children was raised at such a high-level meeting. Both Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen spoke about it. It is good that this extremely sensitive issue is also being raised among the First Ladies,» Olena Kondratiuk emphasised on her Facebook page.
The Deputy Speaker also noted that for the first time during Donald Trump's term, the United States expressed its readiness to provide strategic protection to Kyiv.
«For the first time, Trump personally acknowledged that Ukraine's security is part of the strategic interests of the United States and NATO. This changes the rhetoric: instead of “stop the war at any cost”, there is now recognition that russia must be restrained by force and guarantees, not just negotiations,» said Olena Kondratiuk.
In her opinion, this is a signal to Kyiv that even without rapid accession to NATO, there is a realistic alternative that can be legally enshrined.
«A kind of “hybrid NATO model”: legally not an alliance, but politically a signal that Ukraine will not be left alone. Now Ukrainian diplomacy needs to turn this promise into a concrete document with clear mechanisms,» Olena Kondratiuk emphasised.
Among the possible mechanisms, according to the Deputy Speaker, a bilateral agreement with the United States could be considered, similar to the US-South Korea and US-Japan treaties, where the United States undertakes to defend the countries in the event of an attack. Or trilateral or multilateral agreements: the US and key European countries (Britain, France, Germany). A separate security bloc for Ukraine, integrated into NATO but without formal membership, is also possible.
«In any case, the negotiations in the US have shown that Ukraine is on the side of good. That it is not alone. It has the most powerful countries in Europe on its side. This is not a guarantee, but it is a chance,» Olena Kondratiuk is convinced.