After more than three years of an unrelenting war that has left Ukraine drained of resources, weapons, and manpower, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pushing harder than ever for lasting security guarantees from the West.
Facing a militarily powerful Russia, Ukraine has stood its ground with remarkable resilience — but the prolonged conflict has come at an enormous economic and human cost.
On Monday, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine plans to acquire USD 90 billion worth of American weapons, funded through European financial mechanisms, as part of new long-term security commitments.
Speaking in Washington, he underscored that these guarantees were critical not just for the defense of Ukraine but also for securing peace across Europe.
A Turning Point in Washington
Zelenskyy held a detailed meeting with US President Donald Trump and top European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The discussions focused squarely on security guarantees — described by NATO’s Rutte as an “Article 5-type arrangement” rather than outright NATO membership, which remains off the table. These guarantees, Zelenskyy stressed, would be a “starting point towards ending the war.”
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, described the meeting as “very good” and emphasized that all sides were “very happy about the possibility of peace for Russia and Ukraine.”
He confirmed that he also spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a separate conversation not attended by European leaders.
Peace Talks in Sight
Diplomatic sources suggest that a trilateral summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelenskyy is being seriously considered, though final dates have yet to be set. Such a meeting could mark the most significant peace initiative since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
Zelenskyy himself described the Washington talks as “long and detailed,” adding:
“We discussed the battlefield situation, steps to bring peace closer, and above all, security guarantees. This is a key issue.
We also devoted attention to the return of deported Ukrainian children and the release of prisoners of war and civilians. The U.S. President supported the idea of a leaders’ summit — a necessary step to resolve sensitive issues.”
War-Weariness, But No Retreat
Despite the crushing financial strain and dwindling ammunition supplies, Ukraine has refused to retreat in the face of Russian aggression.
Its leadership now views Western-backed security guarantees, sustained arms supplies, and economic support from the EU and allied nations as the only way to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and maintain hope for peace.
Zelenskyy’s Washington visit is being seen as both a plea for survival and a strategic push to lock in commitments that could end one of the bloodiest conflicts in Europe since World War II.
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