The United States has proposed a 15-year security guarantee for Ukraine as part of ongoing peace negotiations, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy expressed a preference for a longer commitment of up to 50 years to effectively deter future aggression from Russia. The announcement follows a meeting between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida resort on December 3, 2023, where Trump asserted that Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to reaching a peace agreement.
Despite these optimistic remarks, significant challenges remain in the negotiations. Key issues include the withdrawal of military forces and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, one of the largest in the world, currently under Russian control. Trump acknowledged that the lengthy negotiations, which have been led by the U.S., could still falter without concrete security assurances. “Without security guarantees, realistically, this war will not end,” Zelenskyy stated in a series of voice messages sent to reporters.
Details of the Security Guarantees and Future Meetings
While specifics of the proposed security guarantees have not been disclosed, Zelenskyy indicated they would encompass mechanisms for monitoring any peace agreement and the presence of international partners. However, Russia has made it clear that it would not accept the stationing of NATO troops within Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump is anticipated soon, but there are no indications that Putin will engage directly with Zelenskyy. In a show of solidarity, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukraine’s allies would convene in Paris in early January 2024 to finalize individual contributions to the security guarantees.
Trump has indicated a willingness to consider extending the U.S. security commitments beyond the initial 15 years, pending approval from the U.S. Congress and the parliaments of other nations involved in the peace oversight. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of the proposed 20-point peace plan being subjected to a national referendum in Ukraine. However, a ballot would necessitate a ceasefire of at least 60 days, a condition that Moscow has not shown readiness to meet without a comprehensive settlement.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia began in 2014 following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the uprising of Moscow-backed separatists in the Donbas region. As negotiations progress, the international community watches closely, hopeful for a resolution that could end nearly a decade of conflict.
