MARKET INSIDER – Ukraine is pushing for long-term, binding security guarantees from the United States that could last up to half a century, underscoring Kyiv’s deep concern about the durability of any future peace settlement with Russia.
Speaking after high-level talks at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on December 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the U.S. had proposed what he described as “strong” security guarantees lasting 15 years, with the possibility of renewal. For Kyiv, however, that timeline falls short of what it considers necessary to prevent renewed aggression.
Zelensky told reporters that Ukraine has effectively lived in a state of war for nearly 15 years, stretching back to Russia’s actions in 2014. Against that backdrop, he said he pressed U.S. President Donald Trump to consider guarantees extending 30, 40, or even 50 years. According to Zelensky, Trump said he would consider the request, though no final commitment was made.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that security guarantees are not a peripheral issue but the foundation of any credible peace. Kyiv, he said, would lift martial law only after fighting ends and once it receives firm assurances from Western partners. Without such guarantees, Zelensky argued, the war cannot be considered truly over.
Zelensky also indicated that further intensive diplomacy is imminent. He expressed his desire to convene meetings with U.S. and European officials in the coming days to finalize documents aimed at ending hostilities with Russia. Kyiv, he added, wants these discussions to take place in Ukraine and at an advisory level, signaling a push to keep Ukraine firmly at the center of negotiations rather than as a passive recipient of external decisions.
From Washington’s perspective, Trump struck a cautiously optimistic tone after nearly three hours of discussions at Mar-a-Lago. He said significant progress had been made toward ending the conflict, though he acknowledged that the agreement on security guarantees was only about 95% complete. Trump also reiterated that, in his view, European countries should bear the bulk of responsibility for Ukraine’s long-term security, with the United States providing support rather than acting alone.
Despite progress on security frameworks, some of the most contentious issues remain unresolved. Both leaders acknowledged that no consensus has been reached on the future of the Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk. Zelensky restated Kyiv’s long-held position that any territorial compromises must ultimately be decided by the Ukrainian people, potentially through a referendum.
Zelensky further stressed that any comprehensive peace plan must be formally signed not only by Ukraine and Russia, but also by Europe and the United States. Such a multilateral framework, he argued, is essential to ensure that guarantees are credible, enforceable, and resistant to future political shifts.
As negotiations move closer to a potential settlement, Ukraine’s demand for decades-long security guarantees highlights a central tension in the talks: while diplomatic momentum is building, Kyiv remains focused on preventing a repeat of past agreements that failed to stop renewed conflict. Whether Washington and its European allies are willing to commit to such an extended security horizon may prove decisive for the shape and sustainability of any eventual peace.
