US Offers Ukraine a 15-Year Security Guarantee, Zelensky Seeks Extension
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that the United States, under the presidency of Donald Trump, has offered security guarantees to Ukraine for a period of 15 years as part of the ongoing peace deal negotiations. However, Zelensky has expressed a desire for these guarantees to be extended up to 50 years, a move he described as 'historic'.
Background and Context
As Ukraine continues to push back against Russian aggression, President Zelensky met with President Trump to discuss the terms of these security guarantees. This comes at a crucial time, with Ukraine under martial law until these guarantees are given, according to reports from TASS.
Key Developments
President Zelensky reportedly told Trump, We would like to consider guarantees for 30, 40, or even 50 years, and that would be a historic decision by President Trump.
This conversation, reported by the Kyiv Independent and Ukrinform, signifies Ukraine's push for an extended period of US security support.
However, the details of these security guarantees, including how a peace deal would be monitored and the involvement of partner countries, have not yet been made public as per The Hindu. The South China Morning Post also reported that President Zelensky sees the 15-year term as a starting point and hopes for a longer period of guaranteed support.
The Role of Congress and European Parliaments
Zelensky has stressed the importance of these guarantees being approved by the US Congress and European parliaments to ensure their effectiveness. Confirming this stance, he said that bilateral agreements with Europeans from the 'Coalition of the Willing' will subsequently be ratified by European parliaments to make these agreements legally binding.
Implications and Reactions
This development has significant implications for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A lengthy period of guaranteed security support from the US could act as a deterrent against future Russian aggression. Fox News reported that President Trump has confirmed strong security guarantees and that these would be put to a vote by the United States Congress.
Current Status and Future Talks
While the peace deal discussions have made a lot of progress, both Presidents Trump and Zelensky admit that one or two very thorny issues
remain unresolved. Meanwhile, President Trump has also hinted at possible talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future, as reported by Russia Today.
As Ukraine continues to seek extended security guarantees, it remains to be seen how these negotiations will influence the course of the ongoing conflict.