Kyiv Claims Russia Accepted US Proposal for Post-War Security Guarantees

Ukraine's Chief of Staff Reports Russian Acceptance

Kyiv, Ukraine – Ukraine's chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, announced on Saturday, February 28, 2026, that Russia has indicated its acceptance of the United States' proposal for Ukraine's post-war security guarantees. Budanov, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made the statement during an interview aired on Ukrainian television. He stated, 'At the last talks, the Russian side said for example that they would accept the security guarantees offered to Ukraine by the United States.'

Details of the Geneva Discussions

The alleged Russian acceptance emerged from recent diplomatic discussions held in Geneva. While the specific dates of these 'last talks' were not precisely detailed, reports indicate they occurred 'last week'. These discussions are part of broader efforts to broker peace in the ongoing conflict. However, the last round of peace talks in Geneva 'did not achieve a breakthrough' and was described as 'difficult' by both Kyiv and Moscow, despite Washington characterizing them as showing 'meaningful progress'. Some meetings in Geneva involved U.S. and Ukrainian officials discussing post-war recovery and future negotiations that would include Russia, with Russia not participating in all of these specific discussions.

The U.S. Security Proposal

The U.S. proposal for Ukraine's post-war security guarantees aims to provide 'iron-clad security guarantees' that would commit the United States and its European allies to action should Russia launch future attacks following any peace settlement. Previously, the U.S. had offered a 15-year security guarantee as part of a proposed peace plan, though President Zelenskyy had expressed a preference for a commitment of up to 50 years to effectively deter future aggression. These guarantees have been described as 'robust security protocols' and 'equivalent to Article 5 of the NATO partners', implying a strong collective defense commitment.

Broader Diplomatic Landscape

U.S. President Donald Trump has been actively urging Moscow and Kyiv to reach an agreement to end the conflict. Despite the reported Russian willingness to accept the security guarantees, Budanov also noted that Russia has not yet agreed to a summit between President Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a possibility that had been floated earlier by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. Ukraine continues to seek robust security assurances that would legally bind its partners to respond militarily in the event of future aggression.