In a significant development in the negotiations aimed at ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky details of a new American offer that includes providing Kyiv with "robust" security guarantees for a period of 15 years, renewable. This announcement came after a meeting between Zelensky and US President-elect Donald Trump , where the two discussed ways to end the conflict that began in February 2022.
Negotiations regarding the timeframe and guarantees
During an online press conference, Zelensky explained that the current US proposal provides for a security guarantee for 15 years, but the Ukrainian side aspires to a long-term commitment to ensure the country's stability and prevent a recurrence of the invasion. "I really want these guarantees to be longer. I told Trump that we would like to consider the possibility of 30, 40, or 50 years," Zelensky said, noting that the US president promised to seriously consider this request.
These guarantees are of paramount importance in the Ukrainian context, as Zelensky directly linked their provision to lifting martial law, which has been in place since the first day of the war. This law imposes strict restrictions, most notably a ban on travel for men of military age (between 25 and 60) without special permits, making security guarantees key to restoring normalcy to Ukrainian society.
Diplomatic roadmap and international engagement
In the context of diplomatic efforts, the Ukrainian president unveiled a roadmap for the next phase, beginning with intensive meetings in Ukraine between American and European advisors and their Ukrainian counterparts, led by negotiator Rustam Umarov. These meetings aim to prepare for a potential summit bringing together European and Ukrainian leaders, paving the way for a possible meeting with President Donald Trump.
Zelensky stressed that any final peace agreement must have broad international consensus, emphasizing that the 20-point plan to end the war requires the signatures of four key parties: Ukraine, the United States, Europe, and Russia . He added, "We are all firmly committed to ensuring that the meetings take place in January, and if things progress gradually, a meeting with the Russians will be held in one form or another."
Contradictions on the ground and the Russian position
On the other hand, the Kremlin expressed cautious optimism, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov agreeing with Trump's assessment that talks to end the war were in their "final stages." However, Zelensky pointed to a stark contrast between diplomatic messages and the reality on the ground.
The Ukrainian president criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's duplicity, saying, "On the one hand, he tells the American president he wants to end the war, and on the other hand, he continues to bombard us with missiles and celebrates the destruction of civilian infrastructure." Zelenskyy emphasized that the contentious issues, specifically the fate of the territories occupied by Russia and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power , remain the last and most complex obstacles to reaching a final agreement.
