Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy entices Trump with $90bn arms buy in return for security

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday after his Washington meeting with Donald Trump and European leaders that security guarantees for Ukraine will likely be worked out within 10 days. He added that it would include the purchase for Ukraine of a package of US weapons. “There indeed is a package with our proposals worth $90bn,” Zelenskyy said. “And we have agreements with the US president that when our export opens, they will buy Ukrainian drones. This is important for us.”

Reports earlier suggested that Ukraine would promise to buy $100bn of US weapons financed by Europe – lucrative for US suppliers – as part of a deal to get guarantees from the US for its security if there is a peace settlement with Russia, according to reports. The Financial Times added that Ukraine and the US would also strike a $50bn deal to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. The drone news may partly repeat recent similar announcements.

Donald Trump said after talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on Monday that the US would oversee European security guarantees for Ukraine. “During the meeting we discussed security guarantees for Ukraine, which guarantees would be provided by the various European countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” the US president posted.