Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared that the long-awaited bilateral security agreement with the United States is "100% ready," marking a potential turning point in Kyiv’s quest for long-term defense assurances.

Speaking from Vilnius, Lithuania, a confident Zelenskyy stated that the text is finalized and now sits on the desk of decision-makers in Washington, awaiting only a date and venue for the historic signing. This deal is seen as the keystone of Ukraine’s "security architecture" while it waits in the antechamber of NATO membership.

"Guarantees, Not Assurances"

The agreement reportedly codifies US support for Ukraine for the next decade, covering everything from arms supplies to intelligence sharing and defense industry cooperation. Unlike the infamous Budapest Memorandum, Zelenskyy insisted these are "enforceable guarantees" that will survive political fluctuations in Western capitals.

• The Context: The announcement comes after a weekend of intense diplomatic maneuvering, including trilateral talks involving US mediators. While no breakthrough with Russia was achieved, the US deal signals to Moscow that Western support is becoming institutionalized.
• EU Ambitions: Zelenskyy also linked the security deal to Ukraine’s EU aspirations, aiming for accession by 2027. He described EU membership as an "economic security guarantee" that complements the military pact with Washington.

The Kremlin’s Watch

Moscow has reacted with predictable coolness, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissing the "constructive spirit" of recent talks while warning that any security deal with the US would be viewed as an escalation. However, for Zelenskyy, the pen is now as mighty as the sword; signing this deal would lock in American support, creating a legal firewall against abandonment.