US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that a potential peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine is closer than ever following nearly three hours of closed-door talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While expressing optimism, Trump cautioned that some of the most sensitive issues—particularly territorial disputes in eastern Ukraine—remain unresolved.
Speaking to reporters after hosting Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump described the discussions as productive and forward-looking. “We talked about a number of things. I do think we’re getting a lot closer—maybe very close,” Trump said, while stopping short of providing a firm timeline for a final agreement.
Although both leaders suggested that negotiations have reached a decisive phase, the meeting concluded without a formal announcement, underlining that key hurdles still need to be cleared before a comprehensive deal can be finalized.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, “We had a terrific meeting. We discussed a lot of things. As you know, I had an excellent phone call with President Putin. It lasted for over two hours. We discussed a lot of points. I do think we’re getting a lot closer, maybe very close.… https://t.co/CIcoNCWJCo pic.twitter.com/PtwV8aqjbm
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2025
A 20-Point Peace Plan Nears Consensus
Standing beside Trump, President Zelenskyy thanked the US president for facilitating the talks and said that discussions covered every major aspect of a proposed peace framework aimed at ending the conflict.
Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine and the United States have largely resolved the issue of security guarantees—a core demand from Kyiv—adding that nearly 90% of a 20-point peace proposal has already gained consensus.
“Security guarantees are the key milestone in achieving a lasting and just peace,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that Ukraine’s long-term safety remains central to any final agreement.
He added that Ukrainian and European delegations would meet in the coming weeks to finalize the remaining technical details, while further high-level talks are expected to take place in Washington in January.
Trump echoed this optimism but remained characteristically cautious. “I don’t like to say percentages,” he said, before noting that security guarantees were “close to 95 percent” complete and no longer the primary obstacle to a deal.
Donbas Remains the Key Sticking Point
Despite progress on security arrangements, eastern Ukraine—particularly the Donbas region—continues to be the most contentious unresolved issue.
When asked whether a free trade or special economic zone in Donbas had been agreed upon, Trump said discussions were still ongoing. “It’s unresolved, but it’s getting a lot closer,” he noted.
Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s firm position on the region, stressing that Kyiv’s stance differs fundamentally from Moscow’s. “Our position on Donbas is very clear. We respect the land we control,” he said, underscoring Ukraine’s unwillingness to concede sovereignty.
Trump, when asked to identify the “thorniest” unresolved issue, responded bluntly: “The land. A portion of that land has been seized. You have to strike a deal at some point.”
Trump: War Could End in ‘A Few Weeks’
Asked how long it might take to bring the war to an end, Trump suggested that a breakthrough could come soon—though he acknowledged there were no guarantees.
“In a few weeks, we will know one way or the other,” Trump said, adding that momentum toward peace is clearly building.
Trump also said he could envision a future scenario in which the United States, Russia, and Ukraine sit together at the negotiating table, once conditions are right.
The meeting with Zelenskyy came just hours after Trump held a lengthy phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, Putin “wants to see it happen” as well, though he remains wary of a ceasefire that could collapse.
Trump said Putin has so far resisted agreeing to a truce because he does not want fighting to pause only to resume later. Trump added that while he is open to visiting Ukraine, he would prefer to finalize an agreement first. He also said he had offered to address the Ukrainian parliament if Zelenskyy believed it would help move the process forward.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, global attention remains fixed on whether this latest round of talks—described by both leaders as unprecedentedly close—can finally bring an end to one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts in decades.
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