Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set for a critical meeting with US President Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, with hopes rising in Kyiv that a long-awaited peace agreement could be sealed before the new year.
Finalising the 90% Complete Plan
Announcing the high-stakes talks on Friday, President Zelensky stated the purpose was to "finalise everything as much as we can" regarding his 20-point peace plan, which he claims is 90 per cent ready. He expressed optimism that "a lot can be decided before the new year" and revealed that European leaders might participate in the discussions via video link.
The sensitive issues on the table include the ongoing territorial disputes over the Donbas region and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zelensky communicated to reporters via a WhatsApp chat that these, among other critical matters, would be addressed directly with President Trump.
Diplomatic Moves and Stumbling Blocks
The Kremlin confirmed that Moscow has been in contact with Washington regarding the Ukrainian proposals. This follows a visit to Miami last week by Vladimir Putin's envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, who returned with copies of the plan. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the details had been analysed and that contact occurred between Putin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, and US officials.
Russia's core demand remains control over the entire Donbas, comprising Ukraine's eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. However, Zelensky has consistently maintained that Ukraine will not cede any territory it currently holds. Reports from Russian newspaper Kommersant suggest Putin might be open to swapping some occupied land, but insists on the whole of Donbas.
Peskov offered little detail on Friday, cautioning that public remarks could undermine the delicate negotiations.
Security, Referendums, and the Shadow of Past Failure
The United States has been actively seeking a compromise, at times backing Kyiv and at others echoing Moscow's positions. One recent US proposal involved creating a free economic zone if Ukraine were to leave Donbas, though its practical function remains unclear.
President Zelensky emphasised that while the Mar-a-Lago meeting would aim to "refine things" and discuss economic arrangements, any territorial compromises must be decided by the Ukrainian people in a referendum. A key priority for Kyiv is obtaining strong, concrete security guarantees to deter future Russian aggression.
Officials in Ukraine remain wary, recalling the collapse of a planned "minerals deal" at the White House in February. That meeting culminated in a public showdown where Trump accused Zelensky of being "ungrateful" during an extraordinary Oval Office press conference.
As diplomacy continues, the conflict on the ground persists. Russia launched overnight drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including a ramped-up assault on the southern port region of Odesa. An attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv on Friday killed two people.
