Information
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the current proposal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine includes strong U.S.-backed security guarantees lasting 15 years, but Kyiv is pushing for a much longer commitment of up to 50 years. Zelenskyy said he raised this directly with Donald Trump, arguing that the conflict has effectively spanned nearly 15 years already and requires long-term protection to prevent renewed aggression. He added that Ukraine is ready to move quickly in negotiations, wants any final agreement signed by Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and Europe, and would lift martial law once the war ends with firm guarantees. Zelenskyy noted that territorial issues and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain the final unresolved points, while stressing that international troop presence is essential to credible security guarantees.
From Russia’s side, senior officials described recent talks between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vladimir Putin as positive, with the Kremlin saying Trump’s view that negotiations are nearing a final stage is accurate and confirming that a Trump–Putin call is imminent. Russian lawmakers argued that a settlement would depend primarily on U.S.–Russia negotiations rather than talks involving Ukraine and the European Union, while continuing to criticize European involvement. The Kremlin reiterated Moscow’s demand that Ukraine withdraw its forces from the eastern Donbas region, a condition Kyiv has firmly rejected, underscoring that key disagreements over territory and security guarantees still stand despite claims of progress.
Source: AFP, AP, Reuters
So What
If robust security guarantees have indeed been agreed, a major uncertainty, this would mark a significant breakthrough in efforts to end the war. Territorial disputes remain a serious obstacle, but one that could potentially be resolved if Ukraine were willing to concede some ground. Even so, key issues clearly remain unresolved, making it unlikely that the conflict will end in the near term.
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