Trump 15-year security guarantee not enough to keep Russia away, says Zelensky after Mar-a-Lago talks

Day 1,404.

Today, President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have secured a 15-year American security guarantee from President Donald Trump after their meeting in Mar-a-Lago. But questions remain over the other key sticking points of a potential peace deal.

Plus, a postcard from Kyiv’s first marathon since the full-blown war began. Journalist Benjamin Lynch ran the half-marathon with a recorder alongside 13,000 other people to give us a flavour of the event.

Pic credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Contributors

Venetia Rainey (Co-host Battle Lines podcast). @venetiarainey on X.

Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.

With thanks to Ben Lynch (Journalist). @ben_lynch99 on X.

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CONTENT REFERENCED:

Listen to Adelie Pojzman-Pontay reflect on Russia and China’s relationship on our sister podcast Battle Lines:

https://linktr.ee/BattleLines

Zelensky asks Trump for 50 years of US security guarantees:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/12/29/zelensky-asks-trump-for-50-years-of-security-guarantees/

Roland’s Oliphant’s comment piece on Mariupol Theatre being reopened:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/11/mariupol-theatre-putin-ukraine-plans/

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