Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting the then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Specifically, they zeroed in on a comprehensive draft peace framework that would end the nearly two-year-old conflict with Russia. The proposed plan includes a significant element: U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine over a 15-year period. Both leaders announced cautiously optimistic outlooks for the negotiations, while recognizing that many tricky issues are still left to negotiate.
During the meeting, President Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of security assurances, stating, “Without security guarantees, realistically, this war will not end.” Ukraine is still in desperate need of international support. This help is vital as the nation continues its fight to stabilize its sovereignty in the face of brutal war.
Thorny Issues Remain
Despite the progress made in the discussions, President Trump remarked that the two leaders are still confronting “thorny issues” that complicate the path to an agreement. Two primary concerns persist within the 20-point peace proposal: the operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station and the territorial status of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station, occupied by Russian troops since March but still operated by Ukrainian workers, constitutes a major point of fear for both sides. Zelenskyy pointed out the critical questions surrounding its operation: “Two questions remain: the station — how will the station operate? — and the territory.” Control of the decades old facility will be crucial to future safety, stability and vibrancy of this iconic region.
Aside from these worries, Russia still occupies about 90 percent of the Donbas region. The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the few square miles that Ukraine still controls. They caution that if no compromise is possible, Kyiv may soon suffer even greater military and territorial setbacks.
Path Forward for Peace
As negotiations continue, hope springs eternal with President Zelenskyy. In exchange for security guarantees, he wants security assurances to start immediately after they sign the peace agreement. He indicated that a meeting with Russian officials would only be feasible after U.S. and European leaders endorse a Ukraine-proposed framework for peace.
Trump seemed to indicate that the talks were losing their momentum. He stressed that they are “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to reaching a consensus. This sunny prognosis is indicative of the pressure that both leaders are under – and likely share – to bring this conflict to a resolution.
The extent, nature, and substance of communications between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are still defining the debate. In fact, a phone call between Trump and Putin was recently arranged well before Trump orchestrated his meeting with Zelenskyy—and another call is expected to take place soon.
