Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky said talks in Florida advanced efforts to end the Ukraine war. Trump said serious and unresolved issues still block a final agreement. Both leaders described the discussions as productive and encouraging. Trump said territorial disputes remain the main obstacle. Russia continues to press Ukraine for additional land.
Territorial disputes dominate negotiations
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago, Zelensky said negotiators agreed on ninety percent of a twenty point peace plan. Trump said talks nearly completed security guarantees for Ukraine. He estimated progress at roughly ninety five percent. Zelensky confirmed further negotiations would continue next week. Ukrainian and American teams will focus on unresolved points.
Kyiv highlights diplomatic momentum
Zelensky later praised the talks in a public statement. He said both teams achieved meaningful progress in recent weeks. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow now controls roughly twenty percent of Ukrainian territory. The conflict has continued for almost four years.
Donbas future remains unsettled
Trump said negotiators failed to resolve the future of Donbas. Russia controls most of the eastern region. Trump told reporters some land has already been taken. He said other areas could shift hands in coming months. Moscow controls about seventy-five percent of Donetsk and nearly all of Luhansk. Together the regions form Donbas.
Divergent plans for eastern Ukraine
Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw from remaining Donbas territory. Kyiv continues to reject that demand. Ukrainian officials propose a free economic zone instead. Ukrainian forces would secure the area under that plan. The divide between both sides remains wide.
Trump reflects on shifting positions
Trump has repeatedly revised his stance on occupied Ukrainian territory. In September he suggested Ukraine could reclaim lost land. He later reversed that position. Trump called the issue extremely difficult but solvable. He said negotiators would eventually reach a solution.
Security guarantees near completion
Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine stand close to finalisation. He avoided firm commitments on troop deployments or logistics. He raised the possibility of trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine. Trump said such talks could happen at the right time. He warned negotiations could still fail.
Risk of stalled negotiations
Trump wants progress toward ending the conflict. He warned stalled or abandoned talks could prolong the war. He said negotiations that collapse would change little on the ground. His comments reflected ongoing uncertainty.
Trump speaks with Putin
Earlier Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin. He shared few details of the conversation. Trump said he believed Putin wanted Ukraine to succeed. He also acknowledged Russian resistance to a ceasefire referendum. Trump said he understood that position.
Kremlin rejects temporary ceasefire
Russian adviser Yuri Ushakov said Trump initiated the call. Ushakov said leaders discussed European and Ukrainian proposals. He said Trump listened to Moscow’s assessment. Ushakov said both leaders rejected a temporary ceasefire. He argued such a pause would prolong the conflict.
Europe prepares next steps
Zelensky said Ukrainian officials could visit the White House in January. European leaders may join those meetings. Delegations continue preparing plans for further negotiations. Ursula von der Leyen welcomed progress from the Florida talks. She stressed the need for strong security guarantees from the start.
Paris meeting set for January
Emmanuel Macron said allies would meet in Paris next month. He said partners would finalise concrete security commitments. Macron announced the plan after speaking with Zelensky and Trump. The meeting will bring together the Coalition of the Willing.
