FLORIDA December 28, 2025 – President Donald J. Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his Mar-a-Lago resort on Sunday for direct negotiations aimed at ending the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia.
The two leaders posed for photos on the steps of the opulent club before entering for closed-door discussions in the main dining room. Trump, speaking briefly to reporters beforehand, described a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “good and very productive” and cautioned that the conflict would “either end, or it will go on for a LONG time!”
The White House shared video footage of the greeting, emphasizing the meeting’s focus on peace. Attendees on the U.S. side reportedly included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, Jared Kushner, and special peace envoy Steve Witkoff.
Zelenskyy arrived bearing a revised 20-point peace plan, evolved from an earlier 28-point U.S. proposal circulated last month with input from both sides. Key issues on the table include security guarantees for Ukraine, increased pressure on Russia, postwar reconstruction investments, territorial arrangements in Donbas, and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
The meeting comes amid intensified Russian attacks on Kyiv over the weekend, which Zelenskyy cited as evidence that Moscow remains committed to continuing the war. Intensive behind-the-scenes diplomacy— including U.S. envoys’ trips to Moscow and calls with Zelenskyy—has brought the draft plan close to completion, with sources describing it as “about 90% ready.”
Trump has positioned himself as a dealmaker capable of brokering an end to the conflict quickly, while Zelenskyy has stressed the need for strong international support and consequences for Russian aggression.
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