Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the United States has agreed to provide security guarantees to Ukraine for an initial period of 15 years, with the possibility of an extension, following talks with US President Donald Trump in Florida. While describing the guarantees as strong and fully agreed, Zelenskyy acknowledged that they are not permanent at this stage.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, a day after meeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Zelenskyy offered further details on the discussions, saying the security framework forms a central part of broader peace efforts aimed at ending the war with Russia. He said the guarantees were agreed in principle but would run for a defined period rather than indefinitely.
According to Zelenskyy, the guarantees cover a 15 year timeframe, with mechanisms that could allow them to be extended later. He said this duration is shorter than what Ukraine ultimately wants but stressed that it still represents a significant step forward in securing long term deterrence against future aggression.
During a joint appearance after the talks at Mar-a-Lago, Zelenskyy said progress had been made across several fronts. He told reporters that a proposed 20 point peace plan was close to completion and that the military aspects of security guarantees had been fully agreed. He added that coordination between the United States, Europe and Ukraine on security commitments was nearly finalised.
Zelenskyy later clarified that while the guarantees are comprehensive in scope, their temporary nature reflects political realities rather than a lack of commitment. He said Ukraine continues to push for arrangements that are durable and binding across changing administrations, arguing that predictable long term security is essential for rebuilding and economic recovery.
The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly stressed that weak or short lived guarantees in the past failed to prevent conflict. He said the goal now is to ensure that any future peace is underpinned credible deterrence, including military support, intelligence cooperation and rapid response mechanisms.
The meeting with Trump comes amid intense debate in the United States over the scale and duration of support for Ukraine. While Trump has positioned himself as a negotiator capable of ending the conflict, critics remain uncertain about how his approach would translate into lasting commitments.
Analysts say the 15 year timeframe may be designed to balance reassurance for Ukraine with flexibility for Washington. avoiding permanent guarantees, US leaders may be seeking to reduce domestic political resistance while still offering a framework that discourages renewed hostilities.
European partners are also closely watching the talks. Zelenskyy said discussions included coordination with European allies, signalling that any security arrangement would involve shared responsibilities rather than relying solely on Washington.
Despite the progress described Zelenskyy, many details remain unclear, including how the guarantees would be enforced and what triggers would activate US or allied responses. Ukrainian officials say those elements will be addressed as negotiations continue.
For Ukraine, the announcement marks another attempt to lock in international backing at a time when battlefield dynamics remain uncertain. Zelenskyy said that while the guarantees are not yet permanent, they represent meaningful progress toward a more secure future and a foundation on which stronger commitments could eventually be built.
