U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday, December 28, said progress has been made toward ending the war in Ukraine, with both sides describing talks as moving significantly closer to a peace agreement.
Speaking after a high-level meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the U.S. president suggested that a clearer outcome could emerge within weeks, though he cautioned that sensitive and complex issues—particularly over territory and security arrangements—are yet to be resolved.
Discussions focused largely on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelenskiy said an understanding had been reached on this front, while Trump noted that negotiators were about 95 per cent close to a final agreement.
Trump added that European countries would be expected to take the lead in implementing security measures, with support from the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this position, confirming that a “Coalition of the Willing” would meet in Paris in January to finalise concrete commitments to Ukraine’s security.
The most contentious issue remains the status of the Donbas region. Russia is seeking full control of the area, while Ukraine has proposed freezing the conflict along current frontlines to avoid surrendering territory held by its forces.
In an effort to narrow the gap, U.S. mediators have suggested establishing a free economic zone in the region, although details of how such a plan would work are still under discussion. Trump described the matter as unresolved but said talks were heading in a positive direction, noting the difficulty of finding a compromise acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow.
Ahead of the meeting with Ukrainian officials, Trump also held a two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he described as constructive. According to Trump, Putin signalled openness to supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction, possibly through energy supplies.
Progress was also reported on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with proposals for shared oversight that could enable the facility to resume operations swiftly.
Despite diplomatic advances, tensions on the ground remain high. Shortly before the talks, Russian forces carried out a large-scale drone and missile attack on Kyiv, which Zelenskiy suggested was linked to the ongoing peace efforts.
Nevertheless, both leaders expressed cautious optimism, noting that any final agreement would still require approval from the Ukrainian parliament or through a national referendum.
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