Briefly
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree putting into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of January 30, 2026 — the document was published on the website of the Office of the President. Under the decision, MFA in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense must urgently prepare and submit to the president draft international treaties on security guarantees for Ukraine.
"The document was published on the website of the Office of the President."
— Office of the President of Ukraine
Why it matters
This is not just a formal act: putting the NSDC decision into effect gives an official mandate for the legal and diplomatic work to turn the negotiations' outcomes into treaty texts. In other words, Kyiv is moving talks from the stage of political signaling to the stage of preparing concrete legal documents — thereby increasing the chances of real guarantees for citizens and the armed forces.
Where the main problem lies
According to negotiating circles and statements by partners, territorial issues remain the key brake. On February 10, the US Ambassador to NATO Vitaker directly pointed out that the parties failed to agree on a number of such aspects, and it is precisely these that are postponing the signing of the final agreement. This means: the treaty texts may be ready, but their approval and ratification will depend on how partners and Ukraine resolve the question of the sequence of guarantees and territories.
What comes next
The immediate steps are legal work by the MFA and the Ministry of Defense: formulating the scope of guarantees, the mechanisms for their implementation, and the conditions under which they are provided. Then — consultations with international partners and, possibly, agreement on certain provisions at the intergovernmental level. At the same time, this is a signal to Western capitals: Kyiv insists on turning political agreements into signed documents.
Consequences for Ukraine
If the draft treaties are agreed and partners sign them — that creates a legal basis for external security that could strengthen investment and political support. If territorial issues continue to block signing, Ukraine may seek alternative formats: phased guarantees, sectoral agreements, or multilateral security mechanisms.
"This decision moves the negotiations into the practical realm: from political signals — to the preparation of signed treaties that will have real consequences for the country's security."
— Analysis by RazomUA based on official documents and public statements by partners
What to watch next
Watch two things: first, whether the texts of the draft treaties are published; second, how key partners — the US and the EU — react to them. The answers to these questions will determine whether the NSDC decision becomes the start of a constructive phase for security guarantees, or a new point of diplomatic bargaining over territorial domains.
Now it is up to the partners: will agreements turn into signatures, and signatures into a protected international security mechanism for Ukraine?
