The United States has offered Ukraine security guarantees lasting 15 years as part of revised peace talks aimed at ending the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said following discussions with Donald Trump in Florida.
Speaking after the meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Sunday, Zelensky said the proposed guarantees were a major step forward but added that Kyiv would prefer commitments extending for up to 50 years.
Trump said an agreement on security guarantees was “close to 95%” complete, though the US has not publicly confirmed the length of the proposed commitment.
Zelensky said most elements of a broader peace deal were already agreed, estimating progress at about 90%. However, he identified two major unresolved issues: territorial disputes and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
“The war cannot be considered truly over without security guarantees,” Zelensky said, according to AFP. “With such a neighbour, there remains a risk of renewed aggression.”
Reuters reported that Zelensky wants any guarantees to take effect immediately once a peace deal is signed. Trump said European allies would be expected to shoulder much of the responsibility, with US support.
Territorial issues remain particularly contentious. Russia currently controls around 75% of Ukraine’s Donetsk region and nearly all of neighbouring Luhansk, together known as Donbas. Trump said a deal on the region remained “unresolved, but it’s getting a lot closer”.
Moscow has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the remaining areas of Donbas under Kyiv’s control. Ukraine has countered with proposals for a free economic zone overseen by Ukrainian forces, insisting that any final decision must involve the Ukrainian public.
Trump has taken shifting positions on Ukraine’s occupied territories, at one point suggesting Kyiv could retake lost land before later reversing that view.
The US president also raised the possibility of trilateral talks involving the US, Russia and Ukraine, saying such discussions could take place “at the right time”. However, he warned that failed or stalled negotiations could prolong the conflict.
Zelensky suggested further talks could be held at the White House in January, potentially alongside European leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed what she described as “good progress” in the Florida discussions, while stressing the need for “ironclad security guarantees”.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Ukraine’s allies would meet in Paris next month to continue discussions on security arrangements.
Zelensky has said any final peace plan should be put to a national referendum, which would require a 60-day ceasefire. Russia has rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, a position Trump acknowledged following a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite diplomatic momentum, fighting continues. Ukraine reported that Russia carried out 25 airstrikes on Sunday, most of which were intercepted. Russia said it had shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones overnight.
While both Trump and Zelensky have struck an optimistic tone, major obstacles remain, and there is little concrete evidence that a final peace agreement is imminent.
