Peace in Ukraine could be achieved within weeks thanks to U.S. security guarantees, although success is still “far from being 100 percent certain,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday.
He also hinted at the possibility of U.S. troops being deployed along the contact line between Ukraine and Russia, though he did not provide details on such a proposal, and the White House did not immediately comment on his remarks, Reuters reported.
Tusk, a strong critic of Russia over its war in Ukraine, made comments reflecting a positive response among European leaders to Sunday’s talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Zelensky said agreement had been reached on security guarantees for Kyiv.
“Peace is on the horizon. There is no doubt that things have happened which give grounds for hope that this war could end, and quite quickly—but it remains hope, far from being 100 percent certain,” Tusk said at a government meeting following consultations with allies.
“When I say that peace is on the horizon, I am talking about the coming weeks, not months or years. In January, we will need to come together… to make decisions about the future of Ukraine and the future of this part of the world,” he added.
Trump said on Sunday that he and Zelensky were “probably very close” to reaching an agreement to end the war, although several “thorny issues” remain. He was more cautious than Zelensky regarding security guarantees.
“The key outcome of recent days is the American declaration… of readiness to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine after a peace agreement, including the presence of U.S. troops, for example, on the border or along the contact line between Ukraine and Russia,” the Polish prime minister said.
“We will see how consistent our partners across the Atlantic will be, but this gives hope for a successful outcome,” he added.
