Washington: President Donald Trump has assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the United States would play a central role in guaranteeing Ukraine’s security as part of any future peace agreement with Russia. The assurance came during their meeting at the White House on Monday, which both leaders described as the most constructive encounter since Trump returned to office.

Zelenskiy confirmed that discussions on security guarantees would be finalized within the next 10 days. He also announced that Ukraine intends to acquire about \$90 billion worth of U.S. weapons, including fighter aircraft, air defense systems, and drones, to strengthen its military capabilities.

The talks come amid efforts to arrange a direct meeting between Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, potentially in Hungary within the next two weeks. Trump has indicated his desire to host a trilateral summit afterward, bringing together himself, Zelenskiy, and Putin to push forward negotiations on ending the nearly four-year war.

European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, welcomed the outcome of the Washington talks but emphasized the need for a ceasefire as a foundation for lasting peace. Markets reacted with cautious optimism, with modest gains seen in European equity futures following news of the U.S. pledge.

While the White House did not release detailed terms of the guarantees, Trump suggested that discussions could involve territorial arrangements. This raised the possibility of Ukraine relinquishing control of Crimea or parts of the Donetsk region in exchange for binding security commitments. Zelenskiy responded that decisions on territory would be negotiated directly between Kyiv and Moscow, underscoring that Ukraine’s sovereignty remains non-negotiable.

The proposed security framework could resemble NATO’s Article 5 principle, though without direct foreign troop deployments inside Ukraine, a measure strongly opposed by Russia. Instead, the system would rely heavily on European partners, with U.S. support providing added assurance.

For Ukraine, the coming 10 days will be critical in shaping the details of the security package, while preparations for the Zelenskiy-Putin meeting continue. Both Washington and European capitals are watching closely, aware that the success or failure of these talks could determine the next phase of the war and the prospects for long-term stability in the region.