Sikorski openly criticizes the ‘security guarantees’ concept for Ukraine: Are such promises meaningful?
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski recently voiced sharp criticism against the so-called ‘security guarantees’ offered to Ukraine in the context of its defense against Russia.
According to him, the idea of creating additional security assurances is a nonsensical step, as there are currently no perfect mechanisms of guarantees that Ukrainians could rely on in case of imminent threat.He emphasized that existing guarantees, including those under the Budapest Memorandum, are sufficient for Ukraine, and additional formal commitments, in his view, would not hold practical value.
The minister pointed out that new guarantees risk complicating the situation and eroding trust in international agreements, especially if their effectiveness remains doubtful.In his speech, he stated that the main purpose of further guarantees is to deter Russia from new acts of aggression, not to establish an illusory protection mechanism.
Sikorski urged policymakers to focus their efforts on strengthening international support for Ukraine and its military capabilities instead of wasting time on discussions about unrealistic guarantees.He also advised against believing that signing new treaties or promises would automatically solve the problem, citing world experience which shows that such guarantees often remain empty words.
Instead, efforts should be directed toward practical assistance — financial, military, and humanitarian — to ensure Ukraine’s resilience and security in the long term.Engaging with this perspective, the advisor to the Ukrainian president, Ihor Zhovkva, expressed a different view, insisting that it is essential to develop reliable and effective security mechanisms backed by international agreements, including the Budapest Memorandum, which still remains a significant element of guarantees for Ukraine.