Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that the United States has offered his country security guarantees for a period of 15 years, with the possibility of an extension.
“I believe we need more than 15 years,” Zelensky told Axios.
Zelensky announced he would meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on December 28 in Florida and said it would be a “major success” if Trump agrees to extend the duration of the proposed security guarantees.
In an interview with Politico, Trump said he expects the meeting “to go well,” but added a warning: “Zelensky has nothing until I approve it. We’ll see what he brings to the table.” He also told CNN that he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin — “soon, whenever I want.”
European officials have voiced concern over the unpredictability of the outcome of Trump’s negotiations with Zelensky.
“There are no low-risk scenarios when it comes to Trump,” one NATO official said.
Ahead of his meeting with the U.S. president, Zelensky said that a working plan to end the war — consisting of 20 points and developed jointly by Ukrainian and American representatives — is “90% complete.” He emphasized that the Ukrainian side’s task is to fully finalize the plan, while acknowledging that such a process takes time, according to the BBC.
“Our goal is to reach 100%. It’s not easy, and no one is claiming it will happen immediately. But with every meeting and conversation, we must move closer to the result,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky later stated that he hopes to secure a framework agreement with Trump on halting hostilities. He added that if Russia agrees to a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days, he is prepared to submit the proposed plan to a national referendum.
Axios emphasized that the December 28 meeting between Zelensky and Trump marks a significant sign of progress in peace negotiations. Trump had previously indicated he would only meet with the Ukrainian leader if he believed a deal was close to being finalized.
The United States earlier confirmed its willingness to offer Ukraine security guarantees modeled after Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which outlines collective defense commitments.
“The U.S. and Europe will provide Ukraine with security guarantees. If Russia attacks again, there will be a military response and sanctions will be reinstated,” said a senior U.S. official.
However, analysts at The New York Times suggest that Russia is likely to reject the plan proposed by the U.S. and Ukraine for several reasons. The Kremlin appears committed to continuing military operations, and the proposed framework does not offer a narrative that could be framed domestically as a Russian victory.
Moreover, the plan does not address key territorial demands from Moscow, such as the transfer of Donetsk region to Russian control. It also lacks guarantees against future NATO expansion eastward and does not commit Ukraine to a neutral status in case of European Union accession. Russia is also displeased with proposals for post-war restructuring of Ukraine’s armed forces and the absence of clear assurances regarding the status of the Russian language.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, while acknowledging that the fate of the Donbas region remains a key unresolved issue.
The two leaders reportedly spoke at a joint news conference after meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday afternoon. Both leaders reported progress on two of the most contentious issues in peace talks – security guarantees for Ukraine and the division of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region that Russia has sought to capture.
Zelensky has said previously that he hopes to soften a U.S. proposal for Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from Donbas, a Russian demand that would mean ceding some territory held by Ukrainian forces. While Moscow insists on getting all of Donbas, Kyiv wants the map frozen at current battle lines.
Both Trump and Zelensky said on Sunday the future of the Donbas had not been settled, though the U.S. president said discussions are "moving in the right direction." The United States, seeking a compromise, has proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine leaves the area, although it remains unclear how that zone would function in practical terms.
