Trump proposes 15-year security deal for Ukraine

Friday 02 January 2026 - 13:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Trump proposes 15-year security deal for Ukraine

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared cautious optimism after weekend talks at Mar-a-Lago, signaling that nearly four years of conflict might soon draw to a close. Yet as diplomatic momentum builds into the new year, deep divisions over territory and Europe's largest nuclear power plant cast shadows over the fragile progress.

In his New Year's Eve address, Zelenskyy disclosed that a U.S.-backed peace deal stands at 90 percent readiness, cautioning that the remaining 10 percent holds the real weight, shaping the fate of peace, Ukraine, and Europe. He stressed Kyiv's demand for an end to the war without erasing Ukraine's sovereignty, dismissing any peace at any cost.

At the heart of the emerging framework lie security guarantees. Following the December 28 meeting, Zelenskyy revealed Trump's offer of 15 years of protection for Ukraine, falling short of Kyiv's call for a 50-year commitment to deter future Russian incursions. "Without security guarantees, this war won't realistically end," Zelenskyy told reporters.

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held fruitful discussions on December 31 with national security advisors from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, alongside Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov. Witkoff described the talks as focused on bolstering security assurances, crafting effective deconfliction mechanisms to halt the fighting and prevent its return, and outlining a postwar prosperity program for Ukraine's reconstruction.

Territorial disputes remain the sharpest sticking point, centered on Ukraine's eastern Donbass region. Russia, holding about 20 percent of Ukrainian land, insists Kyiv withdraw from remaining areas in Donetsk—roughly 5,000 square kilometers. Ukraine firmly opposes surrendering defended territories after nearly four years of battle, favoring instead a ceasefire along current front lines.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant poses another critical impasse. Seized by Russia in March 2022, the facility once generated 20 percent of Ukraine's prewar electricity and has fueled global nuclear safety alarms ever since. Negotiations explore power-sharing arrangements, though Kyiv worries they might endorse Moscow's occupation.

European leaders will convene in Paris on January 6, where French President Emmanuel Macron pledged that allies will deliver concrete commitments to shield Ukraine and secure a just, lasting peace. The Volunteer Coalition summit follows national security advisors' gatherings on January 3 and military chiefs' meetings on January 5. Trump noted Sunday that negotiators may be "very close" to a deal but warned talks could still falter, even as Russia presses advances in eastern Ukraine at its fastest pace since 2022.