On Sunday, December 28, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago in Florida for a highly anticipated round of peace talks aimed at ending the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting, which followed a lengthy phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was characterized by both cautious optimism and frank acknowledgment of the formidable obstacles that remain.
According to ABC News, Trump declared, “We had a terrific meeting. We discussed a lot of things. As you know, I had an excellent phone call with President Putin that lasted for over two hours. We discussed a lot of points, and I do think we’re getting a lot closer.” He went on to say that the negotiating teams had covered “95%” of the issues necessary to end the war, signaling what he described as unprecedented progress.
Zelenskyy echoed this sentiment, noting that the parties had achieved significant breakthroughs. “We have a great achievements, a 20-point peace plan, 90% agreed, and U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees, 100% agreed. The U.S.-Europe-Ukraine security guarantees almost agreed. Military dimension, 100% agreed. Prosperity plan being finalized, and we also discussed the sequencing of the following actions. And we agree that security guarantees is the key milestone in achieving lasting peace, and our teams will continue working on all aspects,” Zelenskyy said, as reported by ABC News.
Yet, as both leaders acknowledged, the negotiations are far from settled. The thorniest sticking point remains the issue of territory, especially the status of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including roughly 75% of Donetsk and 99% of Luhansk, according to BBC News.
Trump was candid about the difficulty of resolving territorial disputes. “Well, I think the land you’re talking about, some of that land has been taken. Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months, and are you better off making a deal now -- look, let me tell you, they have been very brave. They fought very hard, and continue to fight very hard and do tremendous damage,” he said, referring to the Ukrainian military. When pressed about the possibility of a demilitarized zone in Donbas, Trump admitted, “Agreed is too strong a word,” but insisted progress was being made.
For Ukraine, the question of territory is deeply emotional and legal. Zelenskyy was resolute: “We have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory which we control. And of course, that our attitude is very clear. That’s why President Trump said this is very tough question. And of course, we have with Russians different positions on it.”
Russian demands remain high. As Associated Press reported, Putin is pushing for Ukraine to cede all areas in four key regions captured by Russian forces, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed in 2014. He also insists that Ukraine withdraw from some areas in eastern Ukraine that Moscow hasn’t captured and abandon its NATO ambitions. Kyiv, for its part, has publicly rejected these terms.
Security guarantees for Ukraine have emerged as a central pillar of the negotiations. Trump said these guarantees are “close to 95% done,” though he stopped short of committing to direct logistical support or troop deployment. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, indicated that the U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees are “100% agreed,” and that a similar arrangement involving the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine is “almost agreed.”
The possibility of trilateral talks involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine was floated by Trump, who said such a summit could happen “at the right time.” In the meantime, both Trump and Zelenskyy confirmed that negotiations would continue in the coming weeks, with the potential for further meetings at the White House and in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the “Coalition of the Willing” would gather in Paris in early January to finalize concrete contributions to Ukraine’s security, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the “good progress” made in Florida and emphasized the need for “ironclad security guarantees from day one.”
Despite the apparent progress, the road ahead is fraught with uncertainty. Trump acknowledged that the talks could still collapse. “But you know, in a few weeks we will know one way or the other,” he said. “It’s been a very difficult negotiation. Very detailed.” Zelenskyy, for his part, described the upcoming weeks as potentially “intensive,” noting that “there is still work to be done on sensitive issues.”
The U.S. delegation at Mar-a-Lago included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, White House advisor Stephen Miller, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. According to BBC News, U.S. and Ukrainian teams are expected to meet again in the week following the talks to continue hammering out the details of the peace plan.
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground remains volatile. As reported by Associated Press, Russia launched a new round of attacks on Ukraine while Zelenskyy was en route to the United States, including deadly strikes on Kyiv and Sloviansk. Trump, however, insisted that Putin is “very serious” about ending the war, saying, “I believe Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also. Look, the people of Ukraine want it to end, and the people of Russia want it to end, and the two leaders want it to end.”
One of the most contentious issues is the prospect of a ceasefire. Trump explained that Russia is reluctant to agree to a temporary halt in fighting, fearing it could simply lead to renewed conflict. “Not a ceasefire. And that’s one of the points that we’re working on right now. ... He feels that look, you know, they’re fighting and to stop and then, if they have to start again, which is a possibility, he doesn’t want to be in that position. I understand that position,” Trump said, referring to Putin’s stance.
Ultimately, both leaders emphasized their commitment to continuing the dialogue. Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his efforts and said, “Ukraine is ready for peace.” Trump, for his part, remained cautiously optimistic: “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. Very detailed.”
As the world watches, the outcome of these talks could set the stage for a historic turning point in the conflict—or, if the “thorny issues” prove insurmountable, more years of war and uncertainty.
