KYIV – Ukraine recently reported that President Trump extended a proposal for security guarantees lasting 15 years after the conflict concludes. However, Kyiv thinks this timeframe is far too short to effectively shield against possible Russian threats and is pushing for a minimum of 50 years.
During a press briefing on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Trump mentioned he would need to “think about it.”
The two leaders had met the previous day in Florida to go over security guarantees, part of a broader proposal aimed at rebuilding Ukraine after the war. This proposal includes other elements from a comprehensive 20-point strategy formed between the U.S. and Ukraine to help resolve the ongoing Russian invasion, which is nearing its fourth anniversary.
After their discussion, both sides seemed to walk away with different sentiments regarding the advancement of a potential peace agreement.
Zelensky claimed that they made headway in securing guarantees for Ukraine’s safety, while Trump assessed the situation as being at 95% completion. He also stated that he anticipates significant input from Ukraine’s European allies, alongside U.S. support.
Trump remarked on Sunday, “There will be a security agreement; it’s going to be strong and European nations are heavily involved.”
In the eyes of Ukraine, robust, legally-binding security guarantees from the U.S. are vital for any meaningful resolution to the war and to hinder further aggressive moves by Moscow.
Although neither leader went into detail about what those guarantees would entail, Zelensky indicated that Trump did share some specifics, mentioning that these would need to pass through Congress for approval.
The White House has yet to provide a response to requests for further information.
Reach out to Anastasiia Malenko at anastasiia.malenko@wsj.com
