While the world is focused on the potential handshake between Putin and Zelenskyy, the true endgame of the current diplomatic process is not the summit itself, but the creation of durable, long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. A ceasefire or territorial agreement without these guarantees would be merely a temporary pause in the conflict.
President Zelenskyy and his allies understand this well. That is why the negotiations over security guarantees are proceeding with such seriousness in parallel to the summit preparations. Ukraine is seeking a fundamentally different security reality, one where an attack on its sovereignty would trigger a swift and decisive international response.
The U.S. has put a significant offer on the table with the possibility of air support. This moves the conversation from abstract promises to concrete military commitments. The details of how such support would be triggered and what it would entail are now likely at the heart of the NATO-led discussions.
Ultimately, a photograph of the two leaders meeting will be a powerful symbol, but the text of the security guarantee agreement will be what determines the future of peace in Ukraine. This less glamorous but more critical document is the foundation upon which any lasting settlement will be built.