FLORIDA December 28, 2025 – President Donald J. Trump described his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “excellent” and declared that a peace deal to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine is “very close,” following high-level talks at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday.
Speaking at a joint press conference flanked by American and Ukrainian flags, Trump emphasized significant progress, stating, “We made a lot of progress… it’s very close.” He reiterated his belief that both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin want to end the conflict, adding that negotiations are in the “final stages.”
Zelenskyy echoed cautious optimism, noting that the revised 20-point peace plan—evolved from an initial U.S. proposal—is approximately “90% complete,” the same figure he cited before the meeting. He highlighted alignment with European allies on security guarantees for Ukraine but stressed that thorny issues, including territorial arrangements in the Donbas region and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, remain unresolved.
The discussions followed Trump’s morning phone call with Putin, which he called “good and very productive.” Trump plans further talks with the Russian leader and indicated that direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations, facilitated by the U.S., could occur in January.
No major breakthroughs were announced, and analysts noted persistent hurdles, including Russia’s ongoing battlefield advances and recent deadly strikes on Kyiv. Trump dismissed setting a firm deadline, saying, “In a few weeks, we’ll know one way or another,” while warning that without a deal, the war could “go on for a long time” with millions more lives lost.
The meeting, attended by key U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, underscored Trump’s push to fulfill his campaign promise of swiftly resolving the conflict. Both leaders projected hope amid intensified diplomacy, though the path to a lasting agreement remains uncertain.
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