U.S. Unveils 15-Year Security Guarantee for Ukraine in Bid to Cement Peace

A Promise That Could Outlast Three Presidents

Kyiv—In the marble corridors of the Ukrainian parliament, whispers of a 15-year American security guarantee spread faster than the morning fog over the Dnipro River. By the time President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stepped up to the rostrum late Tuesday, the capital already felt the tremor of what many here are calling the longest Western commitment since the country’s 1991 independence.

The Deal on the Table

According to Zelenskyy, Washington has offered a sweeping pact that would keep military advisers, intelligence sharing, and long-term arms supplies on Ukrainian soil until 2039—effectively binding at least three future U.S. administrations to the embattled nation’s fate.

“This is not a hand-out; it is a shared insurance policy against the return of imperialism,” Zelenskyy told lawmakers, his voice cracking with fatigue after a week of shuttle diplomacy in Brussels and Ankara.

What 15 Years Really Means

While the White House stayed tight-lipped, three officials familiar with the negotiations confirmed to our correspondent that the framework mirrors the U.S.–South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty—minus the nuclear umbrella. In plain language: American troops won’t necessarily fight for Ukraine, but Ukraine would receive steady shipments of advanced air-defense systems, satellite imagery, and joint training on NATO-standard hardware.

The Fine Print Kyiv Must Swallow

• Constitutional-level protections for minority political parties, a nod to future peace talks with Moscow.
• A pledge to defer NATO membership until a comprehensive cease-fire is signed—an olive branch to European skeptics.
• Independent anti-corruption courts with lifetime appointments, a demand long pressed by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

Capitol Hill’s Cold Reality

Back in Washington, the proposal faces headwinds. Senator Jim Risch, ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, signaled he would back the plan only if it is tethered to an annual weapons audit. Progressive Democrats, meanwhile, warn against locking future presidents into an open-ended commitment without explicit congressional approval.

On the Ground: A Nation Holding Its Breath

In Kharkiv’s underground metro-turned-bomb-shelter, teacher Iryna Petrenko, 42, clutched her smartphone streaming the Rada session. “Fifteen years? My daughter will be 21. Maybe she won’t need to run anymore,” she said, eyes brimming.

What Happens Next

Ukrainian negotiators expect a finalized memorandum by September, contingent on this summer’s counter-offensive showing measurable gains. If inked, the U.S. Senate would need 67 votes to ratify any treaty-like document—an uphill battle in an election cycle already boiling with isolationist rhetoric.

The Geopolitical Ripple

European diplomats privately welcome the move as a stabilizer, but Moscow reacted frostily. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov branded the guarantee “a path to perpetual conflict,” while state television warned of a “new iron curtain” stretching from the Arctic to the Black Sea.

For now, Kyiv’s evening air-raid sirens have replaced applause, a reminder that paper promises, however historic, do not stop incoming drones. Yet in the city’s Maidan square, where orange-ribboned vendors once sold revolution memorabilia, a fresh batch of blue-and-yellow pins reads simply: “15 years—slava Ukraini.” Glory to Ukraine—at least until 2039.