IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort on December 28, 2025, after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump and Zelenskyy spoke at a joint news conference following the two-hour-long meeting. They described the talks as constructive and said discussions had narrowed differences on some of the most contentious elements of the peace process, including security guarantees for Ukraine and the future status of the Donbas region.

Trump said the sides were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement, while cautioning that several “thorny issues” still need to be resolved. He declined to set a deadline for concluding negotiations, but said it would become clear “in a few weeks” whether diplomacy would succeed.

Zelenskyy said negotiations had covered “all aspects” of the proposed peace framework and described security guarantees as “the key milestone in achieving a lasting peace.”

Both leaders indicated that substantial progress had been made on the question of post-war security arrangements for Ukraine. Zelenskyy said an agreement on security guarantees had been reached, while Trump offered a more cautious assessment, saying talks were “about 95%” complete.

"Our meeting was excellent… we have made a lot of progress on ending that war – by far closer than ever before." – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/22j0LewxmX

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 29, 2025

Trump said European countries would be expected to take on a major role in providing security support for Ukraine, with backing from the United States.

He said Washington would work closely with European partners to ensure Ukraine’s long-term stability after the war ends, but did not provide specific details on the structure or scope of those guarantees.

European leaders were briefed by phone following the meeting. French President Emmanuel Macron said progress had been made on security guarantees and that members of a group of supportive nations would meet in Paris in early January to finalize their contributions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said ironclad security guarantees would be of “paramount” importance to any lasting settlement.

Donbas Remains the Central Dispute

Despite progress elsewhere, both leaders acknowledged that the future of the Donbas region remains unresolved. Trump described the issue as “very tough” but said negotiations were “moving in the right direction.”

Zelenskyy has previously said Ukraine hopes to soften U.S. proposals that would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from Donbas, a demand long advanced by Moscow. Russia insists on full control of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, while Kyiv has argued for freezing the front lines at the current positions.

The United States has floated a compromise proposal that would involve establishing a free economic zone in the contested area if Ukraine were to withdraw, though details of how such a zone would function remain unclear. “It’s unresolved, but it’s getting a lot closer. That’s a very tough issue,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy said any peace agreement would need approval by Ukraine’s parliament or through a national referendum. Trump said he would be willing to address Ukraine’s parliament if that would help secure the deal.

Trump-Putin Call before Meeting

Shortly before Zelenskyy arrived in Florida, Trump held a lengthy telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump described the call as “productive,” while Kremlin officials characterized it as “friendly.”

According to the Kremlin, Putin told Trump that a proposed 60-day ceasefire backed by European countries and Ukraine would only prolong the war. Russian officials said Ukraine needs to decide on the Donbas “without further delay.”

Trump said the call lasted more than two hours and claimed Putin pledged to assist in rebuilding Ukraine after the war, including by supplying energy at low prices. “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” Trump said, adding that “It sounds a little strange.”

“I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/4biVoStksd

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 28, 2025

The Kremlin later expressed support for Trump’s diplomatic efforts, with senior Russian officials praising Washington’s role in advancing peace talks.

Nuclear Plant Talks and Military Developments

Negotiators have also discussed the future of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest nuclear facility. Trump said progress had been made on determining the plant’s status and said it could “start up almost immediately.”

Power line repairs have begun at the facility following a local ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump described Russia’s decision not to strike the plant as “a big step.”

Russia controls all of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, has taken control of roughly 12% of Ukrainian territory, including most of the Donbas region, large portions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, and smaller areas in several other regions.

The day before Zelenskyy arrived in Florida, Russian forces launched large-scale missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, knocking out power and heating systems in parts of the capital. Zelenskyy said the strikes were Russia’s response to U.S.-brokered peace efforts. Trump said he nevertheless believes both Putin and Zelenskyy are serious about ending the war.

European Involvement and Next Steps

European heads of state joined portions of Sunday’s discussions by phone. A spokesperson for U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European leaders underlined the need for robust security guarantees and stressed the urgency of ending the war.

Ukraine’s defense minister and lead negotiator, Rustem Umerov, said both sides had achieved “significant results” and agreed to meet again next week to finalize outstanding issues. He said further meetings involving Ukrainian, U.S., and European leaders are planned for January in Washington.

While Trump described the talks as “terrific” and said progress toward peace was real, he acknowledged that no agreement on a ceasefire has yet been reached and that territorial disputes remain the most difficult issue.

Zelenskyy said the peace plan was “90% agreed,” while Trump cautioned that “the word agreed is too strong, but we are getting closer.”

As negotiations continue, diplomats and officials say the coming weeks will determine whether narrowing gaps can be bridged or whether unresolved differences over territory and security arrangements will stall efforts to bring the war to an end.

Дякую Президенту Трампу та його команді за перемовини. Дякую Сполученим Штатам за підтримку. Разом маємо та можемо реалізувати наше бачення послідовності кроків для миру. pic.twitter.com/W6aCOcss9k

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 28, 2025