On December 28, 2025, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to discuss efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Both leaders expressed optimism about a potential peace agreement, describing significant progress on a 20-point framework plan, though they acknowledged that challenging issues, especially territorial disputes, remain unresolved.
The meeting followed weeks of intensive negotiations involving U.S., Ukrainian, European, and NATO officials. Trump had also spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier that day, describing the call as productive. Reports indicate Trump planned another conversation with Putin afterward to advance the talks.
Speaking to reporters after the discussions, Trump said the sides were “very close” to a deal. “There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues,” he noted, referring primarily to the status of occupied territories. He emphasized the human cost of the conflict, stating, “I want it ended because I don’t want to see so many people dying.” Trump suggested that delaying an agreement could lead to further Russian territorial gains, urging Ukraine to consider settling sooner.
Zelenskyy echoed the positive tone, saying about 90% of the 20-point plan had been agreed upon. He highlighted strong alignment on security guarantees for Ukraine, which he described as nearly complete. These guarantees would involve commitments from the U.S., Europe, and possibly NATO to deter future Russian aggression. Zelenskyy stressed that any final deal must respect Ukrainian law and the will of its people, potentially requiring parliamentary approval or a national referendum, especially on land issues. “It’s the land of our nation for a lot of generations,” he said.
A key sticking point is the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, comprising Donetsk and Luhansk, where Russia controls most of the territory. Proposals under discussion include creating a demilitarized zone or free economic zone there. Ukraine has shown willingness to withdraw its forces from remaining held areas if Russia reciprocates, allowing for international monitoring. However, Russia has insisted on full control, and no breakthrough was announced on this front.
Other elements of the framework reportedly include postwar reconstruction aid, access to resources like the Black Sea for commerce, and long-term non-aggression pledges. European leaders joined a post-meeting call, praising the progress and reinforcing the need for “ironclad” security for Ukraine.
The talks build on months of diplomacy, with U.S. envoys playing a central role. Follow-up meetings are planned for early January, possibly in Washington with European participation. While no immediate deal was reached, both Trump and Zelenskyy portrayed the Florida summit as a step forward in ending one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts since World War II.
