U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on December 28 for an over two-hour closed-door meeting on a20-point peace draft by Ukraine to end its ongoing war with Russia.
In a joint press conference following the meeting, Trump stated that the talks were fantastic and that peace between Ukraine and Russia was "closer than ever before."
Both leaders have exchanged draft peace plans through negotiators in recent weeks, showing significant progress.
Zelensky revealed that the jointly revised draft of the peace deal was about 90% complete and covered issues such as security guarantees and economic cooperation.
Significant Challenges Remain
Before the talks, Trump had a phone conversation lasting about two and a half hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he described as "serious" about ending the war.
Putin offered post-war economic support by supplying energy resources at low prices to help Ukraine rebuild.
Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the U.S.-initiated call lasted over an hour and was "friendly, amicable, and pragmatic."
Both sides agreed to another call "as soon as possible" after Trump and Zelensky's meeting.
Despite the optimism, both Trump and Zelensky acknowledged significant challenges remain in the negotiations, particularly concerning the future status of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine - including Donetsk and Luhansk - as well as long-term security guarantees.
Trump described the Donbas issue as "very tricky" but expressed confidence it could be resolved. Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's clear stance, respecting its laws and people's will, and expressed significant differences with Russia on the matter. He suggested that the peace plan could be put to a public referendum if necessary.
During the meeting, Russia launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, causing power outages and casualties in cities such as Kyiv. Zelensky arrived in the U.S. amid these attacks.
At the press conference, Trump did not directly condemn Russia's actions but noted Ukraine's strong counterattacks, emphasizing the complexity of negotiations and warning that unforeseen factors could derail the peace process, leading to a prolonged conflict. He predicted that the outcome of the plan would be known "within weeks."
U.S. and Ukrainian Presidents Call European Leaders
The 20-point peace draft originated from the U.S.'s initial 28-point plan, revised to favor Ukraine through multiple discussions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The draft includes security guarantees for Ukraine similar to NATO membership, offered after Zelensky expressed willingness to forego a NATO application. Other issues include control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and post-war economic reconstruction.
After the talks, Trump and Zelensky called several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and heads of the UK, France, Germany, Finland, and Poland. Zelensky stated that Trump agreed to host another meeting with European leaders in January 2026, possibly in the White House or elsewhere. Zelensky thanked Trump for his efforts and reiterated Ukraine's readiness for peace.
On Russia's stance, Putin insists Ukraine recognize Crimea, annexed in 2014, and four occupied regions as Russian territory, demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from these areas, limits on the size of Ukraine's military, and official status for the Russian language. Ushakov stated that even if Donbas becomes a demilitarized zone, Russian police and national guard would still need to be deployed in parts of the region. He warned that reaching a compromise might take considerable time, and claimed that the initial U.S. proposal had "worsened" after modifications by Ukraine and Europe.
Trump Open to Some Russian Demands
Trump is open to some Russian demands, believing that if Ukraine agrees to relinquish parts of Donbas with Western economic incentives, it could persuade Putin to end the war. Recently, Zelensky suggested considering a withdrawal from Donbas to establish an internationally monitored demilitarized zone if Russia agrees to a 60- to 90-day ceasefire and troop withdrawal. （Related： PLA Announces Surprise Military Drills in Taiwan Strait ｜ Latest ）
Negotiation teams from both sides are expected to continue intensive discussions in the coming weeks to finalize remaining details. Trump stated he would call Putin again following the meeting to continue advancing the process.
