Donald Trump has said a deal to end the war in Ukraine is "closer than ever" but acknowledged that "thorny" questions over the eastern Donbas region remain unresolved, following a two-hour meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Speaking after the talks, Trump stated that a draft agreement was nearly "95% done" and expressed belief that both sides, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted to see it concluded. However, he admitted there were "one or two tough" outstanding issues, including territory, and voiced sympathy with Russia's reluctance to agree to a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump repeatedly and praised his team, including envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Despite the positive tone, there were few signs of an imminent breakthrough. Trump offered to travel to Kyiv to address Ukraine's parliament, though he deemed it probably unnecessary.
The meeting followed a lengthy phone call between Trump and Putin earlier on Sunday. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump had listened carefully to Russia's assessment, and both sides agreed that a ceasefire proposed by Ukraine and Europe would only prolong the fighting.
The unresolved issues include security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Trump has made no military commitment to defend Ukraine. The latest iteration of a 20-point peace plan addresses the Donbas region, with Zelenskyy proposing a demilitarised zone and a potential referendum after a 60-90 day ceasefire.
Zelenskyy, speaking after a Russian air attack on Kyiv over the weekend, reiterated the need for "pressure on Russia and sufficient strong support for Ukraine." The meeting underscores the complex negotiations as the war continues.
