US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have said that recent talks in Florida produced meaningful progress toward ending the war in Ukraine, though both leaders acknowledged that difficult issues remain unresolved.
Speaking after their meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, the two leaders described the discussions as constructive and wide-ranging. Trump said negotiations were moving forward but cautioned that “one or two very thorny issues” still stand in the way of a final agreement. Zelensky echoed the sentiment, saying substantial ground had been covered and further talks were already being planned.
According to Zelensky, negotiators have reached agreement on roughly 90 percent of a revised 20-point peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine. Trump said progress had also been made on potential security guarantees for Ukraine, estimating that framework to be “close to 95 percent” complete, though he stopped short of outlining specific commitments.
Territorial control remains the most sensitive topic in the talks. Trump said the future of land currently held by Russian forces, particularly in eastern Ukraine, continues to be a major obstacle. Russia currently occupies about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory following its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
A proposal involving the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, has yet to be resolved. Trump said ideas such as demilitarisation or alternative administrative arrangements are still under discussion. Russia controls most of the Donbas area, while Ukraine retains smaller portions and has proposed transforming the region into a special economic zone under Ukrainian oversight.
Trump acknowledged that the question of territory is politically and diplomatically complex, noting that control on the ground has shifted during the conflict and could continue to change. He said negotiators remain confident the issue can be settled, but warned it would require careful compromise.
On security guarantees, Trump suggested that discussions are nearing completion but did not confirm whether the United States would provide troops or long-term military support. He said the aim is to create arrangements that would deter future attacks while remaining acceptable to all parties involved.
Zelensky said Ukrainian and American teams would continue working on outstanding issues, with follow-up meetings expected next week. He described the dialogue as substantive and said Kyiv values the progress made during recent weeks of negotiations.
In parallel with the Florida talks, Trump also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Trump provided limited details, he said he believed Putin wanted Ukraine to succeed economically and politically after the conflict. Trump also said he understood Russia’s opposition to proposals that would allow Ukraine to hold referendums during a ceasefire period.
The Kremlin confirmed the call, saying it was initiated by Trump and focused on recent proposals put forward by Ukraine and the European Union. Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said both leaders expressed scepticism about a temporary ceasefire, arguing it could prolong rather than resolve the conflict.
Trump raised the possibility of future trilateral talks involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine, saying such a meeting could take place when conditions are right. However, he cautioned that negotiations could still falter and warned that if talks collapse, the war may continue without a clear diplomatic path forward.
Zelensky also briefed European allies following the Florida meeting. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed what she described as encouraging progress but stressed that Ukraine must receive strong and reliable security guarantees from the outset of any agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron said European partners would meet in Paris early next month to coordinate their contributions to Ukraine’s future security arrangements. He said the goal is to ensure clear commitments from allied nations as negotiations advance.
Zelensky suggested that further meetings could take place in Washington in January, potentially involving European leaders, as diplomatic efforts intensify. While significant challenges remain, both Kyiv and Washington say the latest talks mark a step forward in efforts to bring the conflict closer to an end.