BREAKING NEWS: The United States has just announced a significant security guarantee for Ukraine, proposing a commitment of 15 years as part of a newly discussed peace plan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed that he would prefer a longer commitment of up to 50 years to effectively deter further aggression from Russia.
This urgent update comes following Zelensky’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at his Florida resort on Sunday. Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to reaching a peace settlement. However, the ongoing conflict remains unresolved, with critical negotiations still underway regarding military withdrawals and the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, one of the world’s largest.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of security guarantees, declaring, “Without security guarantees, realistically, this war will not end.” Ukraine has faced continuous conflict with Russia since 2014, following the illegal annexation of Crimea and ongoing hostilities in the eastern region of Donbas.
While specific details of the proposed security guarantees have not been disclosed, Zelensky indicated that they would include mechanisms for monitoring any peace deal and the involvement of international partners. He did not provide further explanations, but it’s noteworthy that Russia has previously stated it would oppose any NATO troop presence in Ukraine.
In a related development, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump are expected to discuss the situation soon, though no dialogue between Putin and Zelensky is anticipated. French President Emmanuel Macron also revealed that Ukraine’s allies will convene in Paris in early January 2024 to finalize their contributions to these security guarantees.
Zelensky mentioned that he aims to have the proposed 20-point peace plan approved through a national referendum in Ukraine. However, this process hinges on achieving a ceasefire of at least 60 days, a condition that seems unlikely given Moscow’s current stance on negotiations.
As tensions escalate and diplomatic efforts continue, the international community watches closely. The implications of these developments could reshape the future of Ukraine and its relations with Western allies. Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.
