US-Ukraine Security Document Finalized After Abu Dhabi Talks, Awaiting Formal Signing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in Vilnius, Lithuania, that the bilateral security guarantee document between Ukraine and the United States has been fully completed and is ready for formal execution. This diplomatic development follows trilateral discussions held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, involving representatives from Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia, which concluded shortly before the announcement.

The finalization was confirmed during a joint press conference attended by President Zelensky, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, and Polish President Karol Nawrocki. President Zelensky stated that the immediate next step involves securing confirmation from partner nations regarding the precise date and location for the signing ceremony. The comprehensive security arrangement will require subsequent ratification by both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian Rada, the nation's parliament, before it attains legal binding status.

President Zelensky positioned this primary U.S. pact as the foundation of Ukraine's security architecture, which is further supported by supplementary European assurances, the operational capacity of the 'Coalition of Volunteers,' and Ukraine's accession to the European Union. He characterized the prospect of EU membership as an essential economic security guarantee for the nation's future stability. Lithuanian President Nausėda endorsed accelerating Ukraine's integration into the EU, articulating a strategic goal for full membership before 2030, viewing it as a decisive measure for regional stability. This aligns with Lithuania's planned stewardship of the Council of the EU Presidency in 2027, when Ukraine's accession is slated to be a primary agenda item; President Nausėda had previously proposed January 1, 2030, as the target date for entry.

Polish President Nawrocki, speaking at the event, offered a geopolitical assessment, asserting the consistent threat posed by Russia to Central and Eastern Europe across various historical regimes. This regional security posture is reflected in Poland's defense investment, which has been elevated to nearly 5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), positioning it among the highest relative spenders within NATO. This commitment mirrors the broader trend established when NATO Allies at their 2025 Summit in The Hague committed to investing 5% of GDP on core defense requirements by 2035.

The finalization of the security document followed high-level diplomatic engagement, specifically the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi between January 23 and 24, 2026, which included military and diplomatic representatives. While U.S. envoys held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow prior to the main talks, the Abu Dhabi session concluded without an immediate resolution, with negotiators agreeing to resume discussions on February 1, 2026. A central point of contention remains territorial integrity, with Russia demanding Ukrainian withdrawal from annexed eastern territories, a concession Kyiv rejects. President Zelensky indicated Ukraine aims to be technically ready to open all negotiating clusters for EU accession in the first half of 2026, achieving a 'technical level' of readiness by 2027, underscoring a multi-layered approach to sovereignty.