Trump and Zelensky Meet in Florida as Peace Talks Near Final Stage

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Florida on Sunday, December 28, to negotiate a plan to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting occurred amid divergences over central negotiation points and ongoing Russian attacks against Ukrainian territory.

Upon receiving Zelensky, Trump expressed belief that both sides desire peace and noted that Europe has also been working to secure a ceasefire agreement. Trump described the negotiations as difficult but advancing, stating that they are in the "last stage" of conversations. Zelensky thanked Trump for the mediation and confirmed that his team is working on a peace agreement and security guarantees. The Ukrainian president avoided responding to questions about willingness to make territorial concessions, though he intends to discuss the future of the Donbas region.

The meeting between the two leaders took place in Florida as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Trump indicated optimism regarding the pace of the talks, suggesting that progress could be made quickly. He stated, "Nós estamos no último estágio das conversas" and "Acho que podemos avançar rapidamente." Zelensky emphasized the importance of security guarantees for his country and noted that he plans to speak with other European leaders following the meeting.

Before the meeting with Zelensky, Trump announced that he had a "very productive" phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The call lasted slightly more than one hour, though Trump did not provide specific details about the conversation. According to Russian officials, another call is scheduled to take place after the meeting with Zelensky.

The Kremlin reported that Trump and Putin agreed not to support the European proposal for a temporary ceasefire before a definitive agreement is reached. The Russian government further stated that Ukraine needs to make a "bold decision" regarding the disputed territories between the two countries.

The primary obstacle to a peace deal remains the definition of which territories would be ceded to Russia. Moscow demands full control of the Donbas region, while Ukraine advocates for freezing the current front lines. The United States has proposed the creation of a free economic zone should Ukraine leave the region, but it remains unclear how this area would function in practice. The White House has also suggested shared control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Currently, Russia controls all of Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, and approximately 12% of Ukrainian territory. This control includes most of Donbas, as well as areas in the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, based on Russian estimates. Putin has asserted that a peace agreement must be based on conditions presented in 2024, which include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from these regions.

Russia also demands that Ukraine abandon its intention to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military alliance comprising over 30 countries, including European nations and the United States. Zelensky and European allies fear that Trump may accept excessive concessions to Russia and leave Europe responsible for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Ukrainian and European authorities view the war as an attempt at territorial expansion by Russia. They warn that if Moscow succeeds in Ukraine, it may advance against NATO countries in the future. Zelensky previously stated on Friday, December 26, that the peace document is 90% complete and that Ukraine has agreed to several points of the peace plan proposed by the United States.

The conversation between Trump and Zelensky occurs after weeks of diplomatic negotiations seeking a peace agreement. European leaders are attempting to secure security commitments for Ukraine in the post-war period, supported by the United States. Meanwhile, on Saturday, December 27, President Putin affirmed that he would continue the war if Ukraine does not seek a quick agreement.