Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump on Sunday indicated that negotiations to end the four-year war in Ukraine are approaching a critical stage, even as both leaders acknowledged that a final agreement is not guaranteed.
After meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Zelensky said a proposed peace framework was “about 90 per cent” complete, while Trump told reporters that the two sides were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an understanding on ending the conflict.
The guarded optimism followed a turbulent backdrop, with Russia launching heavy air strikes on Ukraine and Kyiv retaliating with attacks on Moscow’s oil infrastructure, underlining the fragility of the diplomatic push.
Trump struck a cautious note ahead of the talks, saying it was still possible that efforts could fail. “In a few weeks, we’ll know one way or another,” he said, adding that negotiations would continue for now.
Zelensky later said on X that US and Ukrainian negotiating teams would meet as early as next week to finalise outstanding issues.
Trump is also expected to host Ukrainian and European leaders in Washington next month as part of broader consultations.
Russia, meanwhile, said talks with Washington would proceed through two working groups focused on security and economic matters.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said the structure and terms of these discussions were likely to be settled in early January.
Zelensky, who presented a 20-point peace proposal, said the talks covered all major elements of a settlement and produced “significant results”.
He stressed that firm security guarantees for Ukraine remained central to any lasting agreement.
During their meeting, Trump and Zelensky also held a joint call with European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Western European allies and Canada, all key supporters of Ukraine, have continued to press Washington to ensure Kyiv’s security concerns are fully addressed.
Von der Leyen said there had been “good progress” and echoed Zelensky’s emphasis on the need for “ironclad” security guarantees.
These could involve military backing from European nations, with Ukraine seeking a US-backed bilateral security arrangement.
Ukraine’s eventual membership of the European Union is also seen as part of the broader security architecture.
Trump endorsed the idea of a security guarantee without outlining details, saying Europe would play a major role. “There will be a strong agreement,” he said.
Ahead of his meeting with Zelensky, Trump spoke for more than an hour with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump said Putin wanted the war to end and that he believed him. Ushakov said Putin told Trump that progress would require what he described as a “bold and responsible political decision” by Kyiv that aligned with Russia’s position.
Despite Trump’s repeated campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, the conflict has continued after months of diplomacy, including direct talks with Putin, multiple meetings with Zelensky and behind-the-scenes efforts led by Trump’s aides.
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While Trump has at times appeared to soften his approach towards Moscow, he has also toughened his stance, including imposing sanctions on Russian oil companies following the collapse of a high-profile summit with Putin earlier this year.
Among the most contentious issues remains the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region, parts of which are occupied by Russian forces.
Moscow has demanded control over the entire region, including areas it does not currently hold.
Zelensky has proposed turning Donbas into a demilitarised zone, but Putin has shown little sign of backing down.
Ushakov warned that developments on the battlefield meant it was in Ukraine’s interest to make a decision on Donbas “without further delay”, underscoring the high stakes as negotiations move into a decisive phase.
