Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made it clear that any peace deal with Russia will only be possible if the United States provides strong security guarantees. Speaking after his recent meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs “everything” from the US to secure a long-term solution and to stop the war.
From weapons and intelligence to training and military cooperation, the Ukrainian leader stressed that support from Washington will be crucial. He also revealed that a massive defence package worth $90 billion is already being discussed with the US.
When asked what specific guarantees he was looking for from Trump, Zelenskyy did not hesitate: “Everything.” He explained that his demands included two main parts—strengthening the Ukrainian military and securing long-term partnerships with allies.
“The first part is about weapons, people, training missions, and intelligence,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “The second part is what we will continue to work on with our international partners.”
He pointed out that a large part of the deal focuses on advanced weapons systems. This includes aircraft, air defence systems, and other military equipment that Ukraine urgently needs to protect its skies and defend its territory.
“There is already a package with our proposals worth USD 90 billion,” Zelenskyy revealed. He explained that more details will be shared in the coming days, and the agreement will likely be written down and formalised within one to two weeks.
These guarantees, he said, are essential if Ukraine is to consider serious negotiations with Russia about ending the conflict. Without them, he fears Ukraine would remain vulnerable to future attacks.
Former US President Donald Trump, who met Zelenskyy on Monday at the White House, signalled that the US would back Ukraine’s security in any final peace arrangement with Russia.
“It is important that the United States is sending a clear signal that it will be among the countries helping to coordinate and will also be a participant in the security guarantees for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said after the meeting.
Calling the talks his “best meeting so far” with Trump, Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism. He noted that Trump’s willingness to publicly support security guarantees was a positive step forward.
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At the same time, Zelenskyy confirmed that direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin will eventually be necessary, particularly when it comes to the issue of disputed territories. However, no dates have yet been fixed for such a meeting.
“The question of territories is something we will leave between me and Putin,” he said, suggesting that territorial disputes will be handled separately from the wider security discussions with the US and other allies.
For now, Ukraine remains focused on securing concrete commitments from Washington. According to Zelenskyy, the level of American involvement will determine how quickly and how effectively peace talks with Moscow can move forward.
Zelenskyy’s message is clear: without firm and wide-ranging guarantees from the United States, Ukraine will not enter into a peace deal with Russia. He wants American weapons, training, intelligence sharing, and long-term security commitments to ensure Ukraine’s survival and sovereignty.
Trump’s assurances mark progress, but much depends on how quickly the proposed $90 billion package is finalised and whether it provides Ukraine with the strength it needs. While peace with Russia remains a goal, Zelenskyy insists Ukraine must first be strong enough to negotiate from a position of security and confidence.
Until then, Ukraine’s future—and the path to peace—rests heavily on the decisions made in Washington.
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