Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed that the United States has proposed "strong" security assurances for his country, but he is pushing for a significantly longer commitment. This revelation came a day after his crucial discussions with former US President Donald Trump aimed at finding an end to the protracted war with Russia.
Zelenskyy Pushes for Decades-Long Commitment
Speaking after the talks, Zelenskyy indicated that the current US offer stands at an extendable period of 15 years. However, he expressed his desire for a much more enduring pact. "I told him (Trump) that we already have a war going on and it has been going on for almost 15 years. And so I really wanted the guarantees to be longer," Zelenskyy stated. He elaborated that Ukraine wants to consider the possibility of guarantees spanning 30, 40, or even 50 years, to which Trump responded he would think about it.
The Ukrainian leader added a critical condition for his country's future: martial law will be lifted only after the war concludes and firm security guarantees are in place. This meeting, held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, was followed by a joint news conference where both leaders struck an optimistic, though cautious, tone.
Progress on Thorny Issues, But Details Scarce
Both President Zelenskyy and former President Trump acknowledged that headway has been made on two of the most contentious points in the peace negotiations. These are the security guarantees for Ukraine and the future status of the eastern Donbas region, which Russian forces have sought to control.
Trump remarked that the two sides were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to an agreement to end the conflict. He estimated that negotiations were about 95 per cent of the way towards a deal on security assurances. However, he emphasised that European nations should "take over a big part" of this effort, with support from the United States.
While Zelenskyy asserted that an agreement on security guarantees had been reached, Trump offered a more measured assessment. The former US president noted that it would become clear "in a few weeks" whether the talks would succeed, as several "thorny issues" related to territory remain unresolved. Neither leader provided extensive details or set a definitive deadline for finalising a peace deal.
Diplomatic Moves Amid Ongoing Conflict
Zelenskyy's visit to the US followed what Trump described as an "excellent" phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier the same day. The Kremlin later characterised the call as "friendly, benevolent and businesslike," adding that both leaders agreed to speak again soon after Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy.
Despite Russia launching fresh attacks on Ukraine coinciding with Zelenskyy's travel, Trump insisted that Putin still desires peace. "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed," Trump claimed, adding that the Russian president had been "very generous in his feelings toward Ukraine succeeding."
The high-stakes diplomacy underscores the fragile state of negotiations. While the promise of security guarantees offers a potential pathway to ending martial law in Ukraine, the differing timelines sought by Kyiv and Washington, along with unresolved territorial disputes, indicate that a final, lasting peace agreement may still require significant further negotiation.
