Zelenskyy tells Trump Ukraine wants 50-year US guarantees and foreign troops to enforce them

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US has confirmed security guarantees for Ukraine, that Kyiv is pressing to extend them to as long as 50 years, and that real protection must include international troops on Ukrainian soil, according to Euromaidan Press.

Ukraine wants security guarantees extended to 50 years

Zelenskyy confirmed that security guarantees from the US have been agreed upon, but he called for a much longer duration than the current plan.

“Our teams have discussed this, and yesterday it was confirmed with the President of the United States that we will have strong security guarantees from the United States,” Zelenskyy said. “Indeed, at present, they are not permanent. In the documents, the guarantees are set for 15 years, with the possibility of extension.”

Zelenskyy said he appealed to Trump by pointing out how long the war has already lasted and why stronger commitments are needed.

“I told him that our war has already been going on for almost 15 years [since 2014], and therefore, we would very much like the guarantees to last longer. I also told him that we would like to consider the possibility of 30, 40, or 50 years, which would then become a historic decision by President Trump.”

Zelenskyy said Trump responded that “they would consider it.”

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International troops must be part of real guarantees

The Ukrainian President noted that the only way for security guarantees to be credible is through the physical presence of international troops in Ukraine.

“I believe that the presence of international troops constitutes real security guarantees,” he said. “It strengthens the security guarantees that our partners are already offering us, and it provides confidence to Ukrainian citizens, first and foremost civilians, by the way, as well as the military.”

He also said foreign forces would reassure economic actors: 

“It also gives confidence to businesses, both Ukrainian and international, and to investors – confidence that Putin will not return with renewed aggression against Ukraine, against a peaceful Ukraine.”

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Martial law won’t end in Ukraine without written guarantees

Zelenskyy noted that a ceasefire alone could signal a real end to the war or justify lifting wartime restrictions.

“First of all, we all want the war to end. Only then will martial law end. That is the only way,” Zelenskyy said. “But the end of martial law will occur at the moment when Ukraine receives security guarantees. Without security guarantees, this war will not have truly ended.”

He warned that “with such a neighbor, there is a risk of renewed aggression,” and stressed that without real protection, Ukraine can't recognize the conflict as over. According to the President, the guarantees being discussed include “monitoring by partners and their presence.”

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine will only act when all major parties agree on a final framework: 

“If we manage finally to find a way with everyone – with Americans, Europeans, and the Russians – to sign the 20 points for ending the war, I am very determined that, at that very moment, we will simultaneously receive security guarantees,” he said, adding, “We will not waste time. And the moment we receive them, it will be a signal to all of us that the war has ended.”

Still, Zelenskyy said that the General Staff "must confirm that all infrastructure is prepared for this – to lift martial law.”

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Ukraine needs 60 days of ceasefire to hold any referendum

Zelenskyy addressed the possibility of a referendum on peace terms or elections. 

He said Ukraine needs a long, full ceasefire to safely conduct such a vote — but Russia refuses.

“Look, it is clear that the Russians’ attitude toward a referendum is not positive, because a referendum requires security and security infrastructure. What does that mean? It means a ceasefire is needed,” he explained. “But the Russians do not want to grant us a ceasefire for as many days as are required to hold a referendum. For us, that is 60 days.”

He admitted the situation is difficult: 

“Of course, this is a very difficult issue, and Russia wants to continue pressing us. How? By continuing the war – missiles, artillery, and so on. That is why we are fighting for this.”