Former US President Donald Trump has put forward a proposal to provide Ukraine with security guarantees lasting 15 years as a central component of a potential plan to conclude Russia's ongoing invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has disclosed.
Details of the Florida Meeting and Security Proposals
The revelation followed a meeting hosted by Mr Trump at his Florida resort on Sunday, 28 December 2025. During the talks, Mr Trump asserted that Ukraine and Russia were "closer than ever before" to reaching a peace settlement. However, President Zelenskyy indicated a preference for a more substantial, long-term deterrent, stating he would favour a security commitment extending up to 50 years to prevent future Russian aggression.
Mr Zelenskyy emphasised the critical nature of these guarantees, which are understood to include frameworks for monitoring a peace deal and the physical or symbolic presence of international partners. "Without security guarantees, realistically, this war will not end," he stated unequivocally.
Negotiation Hurdles and Alleged Attack on Putin
Despite reported progress, with the peace plan said to be 90% approved, significant obstacles remain. Negotiators are still grappling with key issues, including the withdrawal of forces from specific areas and the future status of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
The diplomatic landscape was further complicated on Monday, 29 December, when White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Mr Trump had held "a positive call" with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Mr Trump, who relayed the conversation during a later appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Putin claimed Ukraine had attempted to attack his residence with long-range drones shortly after the Trump-Zelenskyy talks.
President Zelenskyy firmly denied the allegation, labelling it "another lie" intended to destabilise the peace negotiations. Mr Trump expressed his displeasure at the timing of the purported incident, saying, "It's a delicate period of time... It's not the right time to do any of that." He confirmed he would seek evidence regarding the claim.
Path to a National Referendum and International Support
Any final agreement involving US security guarantees would require ratification by the US Congress, as well as by parliamentarians in other nations involved in overseeing a settlement. Crucially, President Zelenskyy confirmed that the proposed 20-point peace plan would be put to the Ukrainian people in a national referendum.
He stipulated that conducting such a ballot would necessitate a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days. Meanwhile, international coordination continues, with French President Emmanuel Macron scheduling a meeting of Kyiv's allies in Paris for early January to finalise concrete contributions to security assurances.
In a notable development, President Zelenskyy suggested that Mr Trump indicated a willingness to consider extending the US security guarantees beyond the initial 15-year period. As these high-stakes discussions unfold, Russian forces continue offensive operations in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, underscoring the urgent pressure for a diplomatic resolution.
