Palm Beach, Florida, Dec 29: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signaled progress toward a potential end to the nearly four-year war in Ukraine after their Sunday talks at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, but major hurdles remain unresolved.
At a joint news conference, Trump said the two sides are “a lot closer, maybe very close” to a peace agreement, citing agreement in principle on security guarantees for Ukraine, a core stumbling block in negotiations. Zelenskiy confirmed a draft on security terms that would still require approval by Ukraine’s parliament or a national referendum.
However, the fate of the Donbas region — territory fiercely contested by Russia and Ukraine — remains unsettled. Trump acknowledged this as one of the “thorny issues” that must be worked out, and said Europe is expected to play a major role in implementing future security arrangements.
Earlier in the weekend, both leaders discussed a refined 20-point peace proposal designed to form a framework for a lasting settlement. The plan, which Ukraine amended to address Russian concerns, calls for reaffirming Ukrainian sovereignty, NATO-style security guarantees and extensive reconstruction aid, though differences persist on territorial control and nuclear plant issues.
The talks took place amid continued Russian military pressure on Ukrainian cities, with recent drone and missile attacks underscoring how fragile the conflict remains even as diplomacy advances.
While Trump said that European partners had welcomed progress, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Kyiv must make firm decisions on contested regions like Donbas or risk extended conflict, reflecting Moscow’s hardline stance.
As negotiations continue, a full peace agreement is still weeks away, but both sides expressed cautious optimism over the steps taken in Florida to narrow long-standing gaps and move closer to ending Europe’s largest war since World War II.
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