After meeting Donald Trump in Florida, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US has proposed "solid" security guarantees for Ukraine lasting 15 years with an option to extend, but Kyiv is pressing for commitments measured in decades. Key outstanding issues include territorial borders and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, and Kyiv insists international troops be part of any guarantees — a proposal Russia rejects. Both Washington and Moscow say talks are nearing a conclusion, even as fighting continues and Moscow reports new frontline gains.
Zelensky: US Offered 15-Year Security Guarantees — Kyiv Pushes For Decades-Long Commitment
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky held talks with Donald Trump in Florida on ending the war with Russia (Handout)(Handout/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP)
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that the United States has offered Ukraine "solid" security guarantees for 15 years, with an option to extend. After meeting former US President Donald Trump in Florida, Zelensky said Kyiv is pressing for a much longer, decades-long commitment to guard against future aggression.
Security Guarantees: Kyiv Wants Longer Commitments
Zelensky told reporters that 15 years is insufficient for Ukraine’s needs and that Kyiv wants to explore guarantees lasting 30, 40 or even 50 years. “Without security guarantees, this war cannot be considered truly over,” he said, stressing that a durable security framework is essential to prevent renewed attacks.
Territory And The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
He identified the status of territory and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — currently under Moscow’s control — as the main unresolved components of any settlement. Zelensky reiterated that any final deal should be signed by Ukraine, Russia, the United States and European parties.
International Troops And Russian Objections
Kyiv insists that the deployment of international troops on Ukrainian soil must be part of those guarantees. Russia has consistently rejected the presence of foreign forces in Ukraine, even as the Kremlin agreed with Trump’s assessment that talks are nearing their final stages while continuing to demand Ukrainian withdrawals from parts of the east.
Diplomacy: Talks Nearing A Critical Phase
Trump said a deal to end nearly four years of war is "getting a lot closer" but acknowledged territorial issues remain unresolved. The Kremlin signalled it expects a phone call between President Vladimir Putin and Mr Trump soon. Zelensky said he remains open to "any" format of talks — including a meeting with Putin if necessary — but is sceptical about Moscow’s stated desire for peace.
Frontline Developments
Fighting continues even as negotiations progress. Moscow reported on Monday that its forces captured the village of Dibrova in Donetsk region. Ukrainian commanders say their troops, outnumbered and fatigued, continue to struggle to stem advances that intensified in the autumn.
Zelensky: "We cannot acknowledge that it has ended, because with such a neighbour there remains a risk of renewed aggression."
Kyiv hopes European and US officials will travel to Ukraine "in the coming days" to finalise documents intended to end the conflict. The outcome will hinge on whether security guarantees, territorial questions and safeguards for the Zaporizhzhia plant can be resolved in a way Ukraine considers acceptable.
