President Donald Trump is reportedly planning a high-profile signing ceremony to mark a potential peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says security guarantees must first win approval from the U.S. Congress.

According to CNN, Trump wants to sign both a peace deal with Russia and a parallel agreement outlining security guarantees for Ukraine during a large ceremony symbolizing the war’s end. However, Zelenskyy insists that formal, binding guarantees must be finalized and ratified before any public signing takes place.

The central sticking point remains how Ukraine’s allies would respond if Russia invades again. Zelenskyy said general assurances that Moscow would not launch another war are not sufficient.

“We have good things in these security guarantees, it’s true. But I want a very specific answer: what our partners will be ready to do if Putin comes again. This is what Ukrainians want to hear,” Zelenskyy said.

The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly emphasized that without clear and enforceable international security commitments, any peace agreement could prove temporary. Speaking in Munich on February 14, he warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin could seek a new pretext for aggression in the future.

Zelenskyy has argued that long-term deterrence measures must be part of any deal. These would include Ukraine’s membership in the European Union and a structured mechanism to respond if Russia violates a ceasefire or settlement terms.

According to current information, Ukraine, the United States, and European partners have preliminarily agreed on a three-stage response plan should Russia breach a future peace agreement.

The disagreement over sequencing—ceremonial signing versus prior congressional ratification—highlights the delicate diplomacy surrounding efforts to end the war. For Kyiv, legal certainty and enforceable guarantees are essential before declaring peace.

Key Takeaways

• Trump wants a major ceremony to sign a Ukraine peace and security deal.

• Zelenskyy demands U.S. Congress approve security guarantees first.

• Ukraine seeks binding commitments to deter future Russian aggression.

Trump plans grand peace signing ceremony: Zelenskyy demands Congress approval of security guarantees first

The White House is insisting on reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine by the 250th anniversary of US independence, which will be celebrated on July 4, reports Bloomberg.

At the same time, senior European politicians and NATO officials say there are no signs that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is prepared to agree to any deal that fails to meet his core demands.

The report notes that negotiations have already missed several deadlines set by the US administration, and even some American officials privately admit they see no indication that Putin is ready to compromise on his maximalist positions.

Trump sets symbolic target date for ending Russia's war in Ukraine, Bloomberg