U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy upon his arrival for conferences at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership in Palm Seaside, Florida, on Dec. 28, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
President Donald Trump on Sunday welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his Mar-a-Lago resort and mentioned that he had a “productive” name with Russian chief Vladimir Putin in Trump’s newest try to finish the conflict between the 2 international locations.
“I do consider that we’ve got the makings of a deal that’s good for Ukraine, good for everyone,” Trump mentioned after greeting Zelenskyy face-to-face briefly remarks forward of the talks. The 2 males then disappeared behind the heavy gated doorways of Mar-a-Lago.
Earlier Sunday in a Reality Social publish, Trump mentioned he had a “good and really productive phone name” with Putin forward of the peace talks with Zelenskyy. Trump informed reporters on Sunday that he deliberate on calling Putin once more after the conclusion of the assembly with Zelenskyy.
The high-stakes conversations come at a key second in efforts to finish almost 4 years of conflict initiated when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
Zelenskyy, who arrived in Florida early Sunday, has mentioned the 2 leaders plan to speak about financial and safety agreements and the “territorial points” that stay main sticking factors between Russia and Ukraine.
Whereas Zelenskyy informed reporters this week {that a} 20-point peace proposal is roughly 90% prepared, it is unclear if the result of the peace talks could be acceptable to Putin. Chief obstacles to an settlement with Russia embrace the Donbas areas most extremely coveted by Putin, U.S. safety ensures for Ukraine, and the standing of Europe’s largest nuclear plant.
Moscow has reportedly made advances on the battlefield in current months, claiming management over extra areas of jap Ukraine, and their officers have repeatedly insisted that Ukraine quit all the Donbas, even elements which are nonetheless underneath Kyiv’s management.
On Saturday, Russia hit Ukraine’s capital and different elements of the nation with a whole bunch of missiles and drones, knocking out energy and warmth in elements of the capital, based on Reuters. Zelenskyy known as it Russia’s response to the U.S.-brokered peace efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacts as U.S. President Donald Trump, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, U.S. Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff and White Home Chief of Workers Susan Wiles, speaks throughout a gathering with a Ukrainian delegation led by Zelenskiy, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership in Palm Seaside, Florida, on Dec. 28, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst | Reuters
The peace proposal consists of requires a Ukrainian vote on ceding disputed territory to Russia, in addition to a demilitarized “free financial zone” in Donetsk, the capital and largest metropolis in a part of the bigger Donbas area.
Zelenskyy on Sunday pointed to the assaults on his nation’s vitality infrastructure amid the peace efforts and indicated that a part of his motivation was to take care of stress on Russia, together with sanctions and protection expertise for Ukraine.
“These are a few of the most lively diplomatic days of the yr proper now, and lots could be determined earlier than the New Yr,” Zelenskyy mentioned on social media platform X. “We’re doing all the pieces towards this, however whether or not choices might be made depends upon our companions — those that assist Ukraine, and those that put stress on Russia in order that Russians really feel the implications of their very own aggression.”
Earlier Sunday, a Kremlin official mentioned that the U.S. and Russian leaders have been aligned in opposing a short lived ceasefire amid talks and hinted that Ukraine wanted to make a “daring determination” relating to the Donbas area for the conflict to finish.
“The primary factor is that the presidents of Russia and the USA maintain comparable views that the choice of a short lived ceasefire proposed by the Ukrainians and the Europeans underneath the pretext of making ready for a referendum or underneath different pretexts solely results in a prolongation of the battle,” Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin international coverage aide, informed Reuters.
In his Reality Social publish, Trump mentioned his assembly with Zelenskyy could be held in the primary eating room at his Mar-a-Lago resort, with media current.
In February, a gathering between Trump and Zelenskyy over doable mineral offers between the international locations devolved right into a public spectacle, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance accusing Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” to the U.S. president.
