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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