Zelensky revealed how many years of security guarantees Trump offered for Ukraine: “I wanted it to be longer term”
Donald Trump receives Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago Photo: Jim WATSON / AFP / Profimedia
The United States has offered Ukraine “solid” security guarantees against Russia for a period of 15 years, with the possibility of extension, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Monday, adding that he had asked Donald Trump for a longer period on Sunday, reports AFP.
“We really wanted these guarantees to be longer-term. And we told him that we really want to consider the possibility of 30, 40, 50 years,” Zelenskiy said at an online news conference, adding that his American counterpart had assured him that he would think about that possibility.
According to Zelensky, Kiev's obtaining of security guarantees will be the condition for the lifting in Ukraine of the martial law in force since the first day of the Russian invasion in February 2022, which in particular prohibits mobilizable Ukrainian men (aged between 25 and 60), except with special authorizations, from leaving the country.
“We all want the war to end and only then will martial law be lifted. However, the lifting of martial law will happen when Ukraine gets security guarantees. Without security guarantees, this war cannot be considered completely over,” he stated.
The Ukrainian leader also said he hoped for a meeting soon in Ukraine between US and European officials.
“In the coming days, we want to hold a meeting at the level of advisers. (Ukrainian negotiator) Roustem Oumerov is already in contact with all American and European advisers. We want this meeting to finally take place in Ukraine, and I think we will do everything possible for that,” Zelensky said.
According to him, this meeting would precede a meeting between European and Ukrainian leaders, before a possible summit between Donald Trump and European leaders.
“We are all determined to do everything possible so that the meetings that I mentioned will take place in January. After that, I think that if everything goes progressively, there will be a meeting in one form or another with the Russians,” Zelenskiy said.
