Due to the war against Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been at the center of some of the most sensitive discussions on global security, as he attempts to secure concrete guarantees of military support from his Western allies, especially through NATO. This issue is increasingly in the spotlight as international partners push for progress in negotiations to lead to a treaty.
Pressure mounts ahead of NATO’s final decision
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which has lasted more than 3 years, has caused a significant number of deaths, injuries, and structural destruction across multiple cities. Kyiv has received some financial and military support from international partners, but the country argues that this support is still insufficient, inconsistent, and unstable, leaving the entire region vulnerable to ongoing Russian military advances.
There is still a level of disagreement among Western countries. While some governments are pushing for stronger and more immediate support, others are showing caution, mainly for fear of further escalating conflicts with Russia. This internal indecision is one of the factors that has hindered the progress of the discussions.
Within NATO and its member countries, when the topic of conflict is discussed, many questions arise, such as what kind of guarantees can be offered and in what form. There are many possibilities for agreement that need to be aligned and presented during the summit.
Technical and political challenges
These NATO meetings, pressure from the country needing protection and the involvement of the summit countries, occur whenever there is a moment of political tension. Opinions on this conflict are divided. Some governments are pushing for more robust and immediate support, while others are cautious, fearing how this conflict could escalate with Moscow’s advance. This internal division has been a significant obstacle to faster progress in the negotiations.
The expected Impact
The security guarantees Ukraine demands to remedy the situation with Russia pose complex challenges. On a more technical level, there are concerns about the logistics of arms supply, troop training, and defense system integration. Approval of these commitments may even occur in national parliaments, but this process could be slow and face internal resistance.
Another factor highlighted by experts in the case as potentially complex is time management: the longer the resolution of support negotiations takes, the greater the risk of attrition on the Ukrainian front in a war scenario. “Western hesitation could be costly, not only for Ukraine, but for the entire European security architecture,” experts warn.
Zelensky search for security
After all the requests for help in the negotiations, which have so far been unsuccessful, and despite all the progress in diplomacy, there is still a long way to go in obtaining the necessary security guarantees for Ukraine, which now faces a serious challenge and the need to maintain economic and social stability amid a protracted war, while also dealing with international pressure for transparency and structural reforms.
There is a slow pace in defining a clear format for supporting Ukraine, whether through NATO or bilateral agreements. These mechanisms still reflect disagreements among allies; some are concerned about financing military escalations, even economic interests at stake, according to NATO guidelines. This is not only a security issue, but also a test of global political cohesion, where each decision must balance urgency, feasibility, and long-term consequences.
If a robust agreement is reached, the effects could be significant: from an immediate boost to Ukraine’s defensive capabilities to a clear signal to Moscow that the international community will not back down. Conversely, a weak outcome could have the opposite effect, encouraging Russian advances and increasing uncertainty. Meanwhile, in Kyiv, expectations are high. The population is closely following every step of the negotiations, aware that the country’s future may depend on what is decided in the coming weeks.