Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky said talks in Florida pushed efforts to end the Ukraine war ahead. Trump said serious obstacles still prevent a final agreement. Both leaders described the meeting as constructive and successful. Trump said territorial disputes remain the main challenge. Russia continues to demand additional Ukrainian land.
Land questions dominate negotiations
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, Zelensky said negotiators agreed on ninety percent of a twenty point peace plan. Trump said talks nearly finalised security guarantees for Ukraine. He said progress reached roughly ninety five percent. Zelensky said negotiations would continue next week. Ukrainian and American teams will address remaining issues.
Kyiv stresses diplomatic progress
Zelensky later welcomed the talks in a public statement. He said both teams achieved strong results in recent weeks. Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow now controls about twenty percent of Ukrainian territory. The war has lasted nearly four years.
Donbas future remains undecided
Trump said negotiators did not resolve the future of Donbas. Russia controls most of the eastern region. Trump told reporters some land has already been seized. He said other areas could change hands over coming months. Moscow controls about seventy five percent of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk. The regions together form Donbas.
Opposing plans for eastern Ukraine
Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw from its remaining Donbas territory. Kyiv continues to reject that demand. Ukrainian leaders propose a free economic zone instead. Ukrainian forces would secure the area under that proposal. The two sides remain far apart.
Trump addresses past reversals
Trump has repeatedly adjusted his position on occupied Ukrainian land. In September he suggested Ukraine could regain territory. He later reversed that stance. Trump called the issue extremely difficult but solvable. He said negotiators would reach a solution.
Security guarantees near final stage
Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine are close to completion. He avoided firm commitments on troop deployments or logistics. He raised the possibility of trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine. Trump said such talks could happen at the right time. He warned negotiations could still break down.
Risk of talks collapsing
Trump wants to show progress toward ending the conflict. He warned stalled or abandoned talks could prolong the war. He said negotiations that fail would change little. His remarks highlighted ongoing uncertainty.
Trump speaks with Putin
Earlier Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin. He offered few details about the discussion. Trump said he believed Putin wanted Ukraine to succeed. He also noted Russian resistance to a ceasefire referendum. Trump said he understood that position.
Kremlin opposes temporary pause
Russian adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump initiated the call. Ushakov said leaders discussed European and Ukrainian proposals. He said Trump listened to Moscow’s assessment. Ushakov said both leaders rejected a temporary ceasefire. He argued such a pause would prolong the conflict.
Europe prepares next moves
Zelensky said Ukrainian officials could visit the White House in January. European leaders may join those talks. Delegations continue planning further negotiations. Ursula von der Leyen welcomed progress from the Florida meeting. She stressed the need for strong security guarantees from the start.
Paris meeting planned
Emmanuel Macron said allies would meet in Paris next month. He said partners would finalise concrete security commitments. Macron announced the plan after speaking with Zelensky and Trump. The meeting will bring together the Coalition of the Willing.
