Zelensky: We don’t see UN as alternative to contingent or security guarantees

The head of state announced this during a joint press point with Czech President Petr Pavel in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“As for the UN, with all due respect, the UN will not protect us from occupation or Putin’s intention to invade again. We do not see the UN as an alternative to a contingent or security guarantees. We maintain reasonable, logical relations with the United Nations, I mean with their representatives and the Secretary General, etc., but (…) the UN cannot serve as an alternative to security guarantees,” Zelensky said.

According to the president, the UN will have no mandate to defend Ukraine if Vladimir Putin comes with war again.

“Will the contingent have such a mandate? There is no answer to this question yet, but certainly, when there are troops on the ground, air defense, warships, planes, and a serious army, real intelligence from our partners here in Ukraine, then, of course, coming out against such infrastructure would be very dangerous for the Russians,” the president said.

At the same time, he added that Ukraine is ready to discuss assistance from the UN to the future contingent.

“We are ready to discuss (the UN) assistance to the Coalition of the Willing,” Zelensky said.

As reported, the “Coalition of the Willing” summit will be held in Paris next week, where the format and composition of the future contingent in Ukraine and security guarantees will be discussed.