Zelensky described two scenarios for Ukrainian military after the war, but did not specify details.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that after the end of the war, military personnel will be able to return to civilian life. This primarily concerns those who joined the army from other professions and were mobilized under the conditions of a full-scale war. According to the head of state, there will be no obligation for them to remain in service after the end of hostilities.

At the same time, for those who wish to continue their military career, a different format is provided — new contracts, which will be financed jointly with Ukraine’s international partners. This mechanism, according to Kyiv’s plan, should become part of the future security guarantee system.

Contracts after the war and the role of partners

Zelensky specifically emphasized: changing a profession to a military one during the war should not turn into a lifelong obligation. The state is based on the principle of voluntariness in the post-war period.

Continuation of service will be possible only on the basis of updated contracts, secured by external financing. International support in this context is seen not as a one-time aid, but as a long-term element of the security architecture.

The financial sustainability of the army after the war, according to the president, is a key factor in the country’s stability. Without external support, this model will not work.

Experts’ skepticism: “toothless guarantees”

Military expert Ivan Stupak evaluates the proposed security guarantees cautiously. According to him, many of the discussed formats resemble “replicas of well-known brands” — outwardly similar to real guarantees, but not possessing comparable strength.

Stupak directly points out: analogs of NATO’s Article 5, not backed by direct US commitments, remain political declarations. Real guarantees, the expert believes, are possible only within the framework of American agreements with key strategic partners.

From his point of view, for this, Ukraine needs to become critically important for Washington — not only as an object of support but as an element of a long-term global strategy.

Berlin, Washington, and the search for a formula

Negotiations in Berlin between Ukraine, the US, and European allies showed some progress but did not resolve all contradictions. The American side is promoting a model of agreement with “unprecedented” security guarantees, which, however, involves territorial compromises.

European leaders, in turn, offer their own package:
protection of airspace, security of sea routes, and the creation of multinational support forces.

There is no single formula yet, and this remains the main bottleneck in the negotiations.

NATO’s position and the Russia factor

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte publicly stated that the alliance intends to provide Ukraine with reliable security guarantees capable of preventing new acts of aggression from Russia.

However, it is acknowledged behind the scenes: the format of these guarantees is still under discussion, and their real effectiveness will depend on the degree of US involvement and the consistency of positions within the alliance.

What this means in practice

Zelensky’s statement marks an important transition: Ukraine is already thinking not only about victory but also about the post-war army model. Freedom of choice for the military and a focus on contract service with international financing is a signal to both society and partners.

The question remains open: will future security guarantees turn into a working mechanism or remain a compromise set of political promises? The answer to this will largely determine what the next stage of Ukrainian statehood will be — and what role the international community will play in this, as regularly reported by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.