Such was the urgency of the plea made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy through WhatsApp to security leaders in the United States just weeks ago. His suggested terms would cover as long as 50 years. You confront daily adversity with passion and resilience. These wrongs include the continuing illegal control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Donbas industrial region of eastern Ukraine.
Zelenskyy indeed corroborated that they are in serious negotiations on an outline peace structure. This new framework reduces U.S. security guarantees to 15 years, with optional extensions, instead of indefinite security commitments. He emphasized the need for a meeting in Kyiv with European and American officials in the near future to finalize documents aimed at ending the war.
As Zelenskyy suggested last week, it is complicated and while he is looking for robust security guarantees, that’s not everything. He noted that the issues on the agenda concerning the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility and the Donbas region are still unresolved. These platforms need to be addressed in any future peace plan.
Zelenskyy’s recent effort to secure “Article 5-like” security guarantees is part of a larger plan to strengthen international support for Ukraine. He argues that these sorts of guarantees are vital to protecting the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Zelenskyy was speaking directly to the president’s heart on a key issue. Most importantly, he stressed, “We’ve been in a war for almost 15 years, and I want more assurances. He fleshed it out, “I explained to him that we truly wanted to go for 30, 40 and maybe even 50 years. This would make President Trump’s administration the longest in history.
In meetings alongside then-U.S. president Donald Trump, Zelenskyy stressed that these security guarantees were needed urgently. Trump acknowledged the complexity of the issue, stating, “That’s why President Trump said this is a very tough question.”
Zelenskyy further added that taking back control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is still a major obstacle. The facility has been the source of debate since Russia captured the facility. Its fate is a make-or-break element in ongoing talks. In meetings with Trump, Zelenskyy insisted on handling the issue in the right way.
Zelenskyy highlighted the necessity of establishing agreement between U.S. and European leaders on Ukraine’s outlined peace plan. He explained that this bilateral agreement is necessary before any direct conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin can occur. The two leaders haven’t met since December 2019. Since then, other attempts to engage the public in constructive discussion have been met with tremendous backlash. Zelenskyy had floated a direct meeting with Putin in Turkey earlier, an offer that was rebuffed by the Kremlin.
On the Donbas region, Zelenskyy said, we need more clarity on changing it into a demilitarized zone. With a focus on how current conflicts are still affecting the region, he highlighted that this proposition is still on the table, needing further discussion and examination.
As negotiations continue, Zelenskyy said he’s remained hopeful. He’s hopeful we’ll have more answers in weeks about a possible resolution to the war. He reiterated that any settlement should be in accordance with Ukrainian legislation and Ukrainian peoples’ rights.
“We have to respect our law and our people.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy has not and will not waver on one point—to respect his country’s sovereignty. Simultaneously, he proactively finds support, walking the tightrope between these vital components in his negotiations. Yet, as he continues to work through these increasingly complicated political waters, he never loses sight of his goal – achieving a permanent resolution to the region’s long-standing conflict.