Peace Deal ‘Very Close’ but Key Territorial Issues Remain, Says Trump After Zelenskyy Talks in Florida
Florida [US], December 29 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Sunday said a peace agreement to end the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war is “very close,” though he acknowledged that one or two “thorny” issues—particularly related to territory in eastern Ukraine—remain unresolved. His remarks came after extensive talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, alongside parallel discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and European leaders.
Speaking to reporters before and after his meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump said peace negotiations have entered their final stages. “We’re in the final stages of talking. We’re going to see. It’ll either end, or it’s going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed, and nobody wants that,” he said. Trump stressed that he has set no deadline for a deal, adding, “My deadline is getting the war ended.”
Trump said he believes both Putin and Zelenskyy are serious about peace. He described his phone conversations with the Russian President—one lasting over two hours and another over an hour—as “very productive” and said they covered a wide range of issues. The Kremlin also characterised the calls as friendly and businesslike.
According to Trump, major progress has been made, but sensitive questions remain. “The land. Some of that land has been taken… You’re better off making a deal now,” he said, referring to disputed territories in eastern Ukraine, including the Donbas region. He declined to specify how much of the deal has been finalised but reiterated that discussions are nearing completion.
Zelenskyy said talks with Trump addressed all major aspects of a potential peace settlement based on Ukraine’s 20-point peace plan. He claimed there is already “90 per cent agreement” on the overall framework, “100 per cent agreement” on the military dimension and US-Ukraine security guarantees, and near-complete agreement on US-Europe-Ukraine security guarantees. “Security guarantees are a key milestone in achieving lasting peace, and Ukraine is ready for peace,” Zelenskyy said, adding that teams from both sides could meet as early as next week to finalise outstanding matters.
Trump also confirmed that European leaders are closely involved in the process. A joint call involving leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Norway, as well as the NATO Secretary General and the President of the European Commission, was held during the Florida talks. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the leaders discussed “concrete steps” toward peace, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe stands ready to work with the US and Ukraine, emphasising the need for “ironclad security guarantees from day one.”
During the discussions, Trump floated the possibility of a future trilateral meeting involving himself, Putin and Zelenskyy. “I see that happening, sure, at the right time,” he said, adding that Putin had expressed strong interest in such a meeting.
Despite the diplomatic momentum, fighting continued on the ground. Russian attacks struck multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Sloviansk, on the same day as the talks, killing and injuring civilians. Zelenskyy noted that Russia launched more than 2,100 attack drones, around 800 guided aerial bombs and 94 missiles in just one week, many targeting energy infrastructure.
Trump hosted a formal dinner for Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago, attended by senior US officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, foreign envoy Steve Witkoff, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and others. Trump said discussions with Russia, Ukraine and European partners would continue in the coming days and confirmed he plans to speak with Putin again, whose approval would be required for any final agreement.
“This is probably the deadliest war since World War II,” Trump said. “Everybody wants it ended. I want it ended because I don’t want to see so many people dying.”(ANI)
656 words, 3 minutes read time.
About The Author
