The recently drafted peace plan between Ukraine and Russia includes a proposed 15-year security guarantee from the United States for Ukraine. This development was shared by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a WhatsApp conversation with journalists on Monday, as reported by Reuters.
Zelenskyy went on to express that he had previously approached former U.S. President Donald Trump, advocating for even more extensive security assurances—potentially lasting up to 50 years. “I told him we would really like to consider the possibility of 30, 40, or even 50 years,” Zelenskyy said, according to information from AFP. He added that Trump responded with a promise to give the matter due consideration.
### Spotlight on the Peace Plan
This announcement follows a highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday. During their discussions, which lasted several hours, the two leaders explored a comprehensive Ukrainian peace plan composed of 20 points. Both presidents conveyed optimism afterward, asserting that significant strides had been made toward concluding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
However, the specifics of these advancements remain unclear, and there has been no indication of how close the parties are to reaching a definitive peace agreement. Zelenskyy emphasized that establishing security guarantees is vital for ensuring lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
### Referendum on the Horizon
On Monday, Zelenskyy revealed plans for a referendum in Ukraine regarding the proposed 20-point peace plan. He noted that for such a vote to be viable, a ceasefire of at least 60 days would be necessary.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy stressed that the peace plan must receive formal endorsement from Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and European nations. He expressed his desire to convene discussions with European and American officials in Kyiv in the coming days, and confirmed a meeting with European leaders scheduled for early January.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment on social media platform X on Sunday night, underscoring the need for a coalition of willing countries to convene and finalize each nation’s contributions toward Ukraine’s security guarantees.
/Ritzau/