The scheme of guaranteeing Ukraine's security, designed to support Kyiv regardless of the change of power in the United States, is facing certain difficulties, the Wall Street Journal notes.
First of all, the Biden administration cannot guarantee that the next president will comply with international agreements concerning Ukraine. An example is Trump, who has proven his willingness to cancel the agreements of his predecessors.
Secondly, European countries face limited financial and military capabilities to compensate for a possible reduction in US aid if the future president makes such a decision.
"Despite widespread support for Ukraine from both parties, leading Republican presidential candidates have made it clear that US support should end," the article says.
"European allies are already preparing for the possibility that the Biden administration's long-term pledges will be weaker than expected or too vague to provide reliable deterrence against Russia," the publication emphasizes.
According to the WSJ, the option of 4-year guarantees for Ukraine is currently under consideration. Western capitals hope to convince the Kremlin that Russia will not be able to wait for the end of US military aid to Kyiv. However, the development of these plans will take "many months," and some bilateral agreements may not be concluded until next year.
"There is also no consensus on how detailed the obligations should be," the article emphasizes. The West wants to ensure that their defense industries can provide the promised military aid to Ukraine without compromising their own interests.
Paris plans to start negotiations on security guarantees for Ukraine in the next few weeks. A second round of talks with Washington is also scheduled to take place around the same time.
