Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that a landmark security agreement with the United States is fully prepared for signing, framing it as a pivotal step toward ending Russia’s full-scale invasion and reshaping Kyiv’s long-term security architecture.

Zelensky said the text of the accord, which outlines US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine, has been finalised and now awaits only confirmation of the time and place for a formal signing ceremony. Once signed, the document is expected to be submitted to both the US Congress and Ukraine’s parliament for ratification, anchoring Washington’s support in law.

“For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States,” Zelensky said, stressing that the agreement is “100 per cent ready” and casting it as a substitute for the NATO membership Kyiv has long sought but not yet secured.

The development comes against the backdrop of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi involving Russian and Ukrainian negotiators and American mediators. The meetings, described by US officials as having gone “better than expected,” focused on proposals linked to a US-driven peace framework and raised cautious speculation about a possible future summit between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin, however, moved quickly to dampen expectations. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the discussions were held in a “constructive spirit” but warned that it would be a “mistake” to anticipate rapid breakthroughs, underscoring that “significant work” still lies ahead.

Russia’s delegation in Abu Dhabi was led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of the GRU military intelligence agency, while Ukraine was represented by Zelensky’s powerful chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov. The US side included special envoys tasked with testing the limits of possible compromise.

Even as diplomats talked, Russia unleashed a new wave of overnight strikes on Ukraine, targeting power and heating infrastructure and leaving more than a million people in Kyiv and Chernihiv without electricity or warmth. Ukrainian officials reported hundreds of attack drones and dozens of missiles launched, accusing Moscow of trying to break civilian morale during subzero temperatures.

Core disputes remain unresolved, particularly over the eastern Donbas region. Zelensky has vowed not to cede the territory, warning it could become a permanent springboard for renewed Russian offensives. A US-backed idea to turn Donbas into a demilitarised free economic zone in exchange for security guarantees is seen as almost certain to face resistance in Moscow.

Zelensky has signalled readiness to drop Ukraine’s formal bid for NATO membership if Kyiv receives “legally binding” guarantees from the US and its allies, calling the emerging pact “a chance to prevent another wave of Russian aggression” and a significant compromise on Ukraine’s part.