Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday as both leaders tried to push forward a possible peace deal to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting took place at Trump’s private club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, where the US president is spending the holiday season. Both leaders described the talks as positive. Trump called the meeting “terrific,” while Zelenskyy said it was “great.”
This was Zelenskyy’s third visit to meet Trump this year, and expectations were high that the two would try to close major gaps in a peace plan that has been under discussion for months. Here are all the key points discussed.
Trump and Zelenskyy meet: Trump confident, but ‘thorniest’ issue unresolved
Trump seemed positive after the meeting, but also warned that the talks are complicated and fragile. Standing next to Zelenskyy, he said a deal could be clear “in a few weeks,” but stopped short of giving a firm timeline.
“We could have something where one item that you’re not thinking about is a big item, breaks it up. Look, it’s been a very difficult negotiation,” he said. Trump said he believes a peace agreement is close, possibly with around 95% agreement on key points, but admitted that final hurdles remain.
Speaking of the eastern Donbas region, which Russia has demanded that Ukraine surrender, is still an outstanding issue.
Trump acknowledged that this area is one of the “thorny issues” still unresolved. The US has suggested creating a “free economic zone” in parts of Donbas as part of a negotiated settlement, but details remain unclear.
“We’re getting closer to an agreement on that. And that’s a big issue,” he told reporters in a joint appearance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “Certainly, that’s one of the big issues, and I think we’re closer.”
Trump and Zelenskyy meet: Territory still the hardest question
After the meeting, Zelenskyy made it clear that the issue of land remains the most difficult part of the talks. Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, he said Ukraine cannot simply give up territory. “You know our position,” Zelenskyy said, according to CNN. “We have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory which we control.”
He added that any decision about land must be made by the people of Ukraine, not just leaders behind closed doors. Zelenskyy said a national referendum could be used to decide not only territorial questions, but other parts of the peace plan as well. “This is not the land of one person,” he said. “It is the land of our nation for many generations.”
He also said Ukraine’s parliament could be involved, but told reporters that Ukraine’s constitution does not allow territory to be handed over through a simple parliamentary vote. Only the public can approve such a move.
‘Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,’ Trump says after meeting Zelenskyy
“Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. Once it sounds a little strange, but I was explaining to the President, President Putin was very generous in his feelings toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity, and other things at very low prices. So a lot of good things came out of that call today,” Trump told reporters standing next to Zelenskyy after the meeting.
Trump also said he would consider travelling to Ukraine if it helped secure a deal, including possibly speaking to Ukraine’s parliament. However, he suggested such a trip is unlikely. “I have no problem with travelling to Ukraine,” Trump said. “But I would like to get the deal done and not necessarily have to go.”
Trump and Zelenskyy meet: Ukraine and the United States are fully aligned
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said he wants four regions captured by Russian forces, along with Crimea, to be recognised as Russian territory. Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Russia is not ready to negotiate on its demands, Moscow has made it clear.
Putin has also demanded that Ukraine withdraw from some eastern areas that Russian forces have not even captured. Kyiv has rejected these conditions.
Despite the challenges, Zelenskyy said there has been strong progress on other parts of the peace plan. According to him, about 90% of the overall plan has broad agreement. On security guarantees and military issues, he said Ukraine and the United States are fully aligned. “We agree that security guarantees are a key milestone in achieving lasting peace,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that the two leaders discussed all aspects of a 20-point peace proposal during their talks.
Trump and Zelenskyy meet: Call with European leaders
During Zelenskyy’s visit, Trump and the Ukrainian president also held a phone call with several European leaders. The call lasted over an hour and included leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Norway, along with NATO’s secretary general and the president of the European Commission.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the leaders discussed “concrete steps” toward ending the war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said there was good progress made.