Trump says Ukraine war peace talks with Russia close to completion

President Donald Trump said Sunday that peace talks to end the war in Ukraine are nearing completion after a meeting in Florida with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which the two leaders signaled significant progress on a 20-point plan while acknowledging unresolved disputes over territory, terms of a Ukrainian ceasefire and agreement.

Trump and Zelensky spoke to reporters after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago, describing weeks of negotiations involving officials from the United States, Ukraine, the European Union and NATO that have pushed a potential peace framework closer to the finish line, although many high-stakes issues remain unresolved.

Trump said that the negotiations had intensified over the past month and noted that the discussions had become much more advanced than at any previous time in the war, but he warned that the final agreements depended on resolving a small number of difficult issues.

“We could be very close,” Trump said. “There are one or two very thorny issues, very difficult issues. But I think we’re doing a very good job. We’ve made a lot of progress today, but we’ve actually made it over the last month. This is not a one-day process. This is very complex stuff.”

Zelensky is ready to present new peace proposals to the United States and Russia after working with European talks

Zelensky echoed that assessment, stressing that negotiators largely agreed on the framework of the agreement and crediting sustained diplomacy across multiple international meetings that preceded the Florida talks.

He said negotiations took place over several weeks in cities including Geneva, Miami, Berlin and at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, where American and Ukrainian teams are working toward a common peace framework.

“We discussed all aspects of the peace framework, which includes – and we have great achievements – a 20-point peace plan, which was approved by 90%,” Zelensky said.

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President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at Mar-a-Lago. (Volodymyr Zelensky X)

The two leaders said that European and NATO officials were closely involved in the process, with a joint call held following the meeting that included senior leaders from across the continent and international institutions.

Zelensky said the teams were expected to meet again in the coming weeks to finalize remaining issues and that Trump had agreed to potentially host further talks in Washington with European leaders and a Ukrainian delegation.

Despite the progress, territory – especially the status of Donbas – remains one of the most difficult unresolved issues, with Trump and Zelensky acknowledging the difference in positions between Ukraine and Russia.

The Finnish President says that a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is closer than at any point during the war

President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak at Mar-a-Lago. (Volodymyr Zelensky X)

Trump noted that time could be a critical factor in negotiations, warning that delay could lead to more regional losses as fighting continues.

“Some of that land has been taken,” Trump said. “Some of these lands may be up for grabs, but they may be taken over the next several months. Is it better to make a deal now?”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke alongside President Donald Trump after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago. (Volodymyr Zelensky X)

Zelensky stressed that any final agreement must comply with Ukrainian law and reflect the will of the Ukrainian people, which may require parliamentary approval or a national referendum.

“Our society also has to choose and decide who should vote, because it is its land – not one person’s land,” Zelensky said. “It has been our nation’s land for generations.”

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Trump said that polls show strong popular support for ending the war and reiterated his desire to end the conflict, noting the extent of the casualties on both sides.

“We want to see it end,” Trump said. “I want it to be over because I don’t want to see so many people die. We are losing huge numbers of people – the largest ever since World War II.”