The United States has proposed a security guarantee for Ukraine lasting 15 years, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This announcement was made on Monday as part of ongoing discussions surrounding a potential peace plan aimed at resolving the conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy expressed a preference for a longer commitment of up to 50 years to effectively deter further aggression from Moscow.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump’s Florida resort on Sunday. Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia are now “closer than ever before” to reaching a peace settlement. Despite this optimism, significant challenges remain unresolved, particularly concerning military withdrawals and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, one of the ten largest in the world, currently occupied by Russian forces.
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of security guarantees, stating, “Without security guarantees, realistically, this war will not end.” Since 2014, Ukraine has been engaged in conflict with Russia, which annexed Crimea and supported separatist movements in the Donbas region.
Details surrounding the proposed security guarantees have not yet been disclosed. However, Zelenskyy noted that these guarantees would include mechanisms for monitoring any peace agreement and the involvement of international partners. Russia has previously indicated its opposition to any NATO troop presence in Ukraine, complicating the discussions further.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump are expected to have a conversation soon, though there is no indication that Putin plans to engage with Zelenskyy directly.
In response to these developments, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Ukraine’s allies would convene in Paris in early January 2024 to finalize each country’s contributions to the security guarantees. Trump indicated he would consider extending U.S. security commitments beyond the initial 15 years, contingent upon congressional approval in the U.S. and ratification from other involved nations.
Zelenskyy has expressed a desire for the proposed 20-point peace plan to be subject to a national referendum in Ukraine. Nonetheless, executing such a vote would necessitate a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days. Given Moscow’s reluctance to agree to a truce without a comprehensive settlement, the path forward remains uncertain.
As negotiations continue, the global community remains watchful of the evolving situation, with the hope that these security assurances can pave the way for lasting peace in the region.
