U.S. Proposes 15-Year Security Guarantee in Ukraine Peace Plan

The United States has proposed a 15-year security guarantee for Ukraine as part of a peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday. Zelenskyy expressed a preference for a longer, 50-year commitment to more effectively deter potential future aggression from Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Zelenskyy at his Florida resort on Sunday, stating that Ukraine and Russia are "closer than ever before" to reaching a peace settlement. Despite this optimism, key issues remain unresolved, including the withdrawal of forces and the status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, one of the world's largest. Trump acknowledged that the ongoing U.S.-led negotiations could still collapse.

Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of security guarantees for ending the conflict, stating, "Without security guarantees, realistically, this war will not end." He indicated that the proposed guarantees would involve monitoring mechanisms and the presence of international partners, though specific details have not been disclosed. Russia has previously stated its opposition to the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump are expected to speak soon, but there is no indication of direct communication between Putin and Zelenskyy. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Ukraine's allies will convene in Paris in early January to finalize each country's contributions to the security guarantees.

Zelenskyy expressed his desire for the 20-point peace plan under discussion to be approved by Ukrainians through a national referendum. However, conducting such a referendum would require a ceasefire of at least 60 days, and Russia has shown no willingness to agree to a truce without a comprehensive settlement.