Trump and Zelensky Meet to Discuss Peace Plan, Trump Says Thorny Issues Remain
Following nearly three hours of private talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the security guarantee for Ukraine is "almost 95 percent" finalized, but said that significant territorial disputes, especially regarding land in eastern Ukraine, remain unresolved.
After meeting with Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump told reporters that the discussions were highly productive. "We discussed a lot of points. I do think we're getting a lot closer, maybe very close," Trump said, noting that he did not set a deadline for the process.
Although the press conference concluded without a formal declaration of a final agreement, both leaders indicated that the negotiations are approaching a decisive stage.
Unresolved Issues
A key unresolved issue involves eastern Ukraine, especially the Donbas area. When questioned about whether a free trade zone had been agreed upon in the region, Trump stated that the matter remains unsettled.
"It's unresolved but it's getting a lot closer," he said. Zelenskyy, when asked about Donbas, affirmed Ukraine's firm stance: "We respect the land we control" and highlighted Ukraine's position is "very clear" and different from Russia's.
Peace Plan
Zelenskyy, while speaking with Trump, expressed gratitude to the US president for the meeting and mentioned that they had discussed all elements of a suggested peace framework. He stated that a 20-point peace plan is now 90 percent agreed upon, and the US-Ukraine security guarantees, which are a key demand from Kyiv, are completely resolved.
"Security guarantees are the key milestone in achieving lasting peace," Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukrainian and European delegations will continue technical work and are set to meet in the coming weeks to finalize the remaining issues. Zelenskyy also mentioned that Trump would host further talks in Washington in January. Trump stated that the guarantees are "close to 95 percent" complete but noted he "doesn’t like to say percentages." Despite the caution, he indicated that security arrangements were largely settled and no longer the main hurdle.
Trump Suggests War Might be Settled Within Weeks
Trump said the war could end in "a few weeks," though it wasn’t guaranteed. He also suggested that the US, Ukraine, and Russia could eventually hold talks.
Ahead of meeting Zelenskyy, Trump spoke with Putin, who "wants to see it happen," but hasn’t agreed to a ceasefire. Trump remains open to visiting Ukraine but prefers to secure a deal first and offered to speak in Ukraine’s parliament if needed.
