Donald Trump on Sunday said negotiations to end the war in Ukraine are in their "final stages", after holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy in Florida and speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The US President met Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence, claiming that both sides were close to an agreement. Hours earlier, Trump said he had held a lengthy call with Putin and intended to speak to him again once discussions had progressed further. "The two leaders want it to end," Trump told reporters. "I think we can move pretty rapidly. Otherwise it's going to go on for a very long time." He praised Zelenskyy, saying: "This gentleman has worked very hard, and is very brave, and his people are very brave." "I do think we have the makings of a deal," Trump added. "We have two willing countries. We are in the final stages of talking." Standing alongside Trump, Mr Zelenskyy said US and Ukrainian negotiators had made significant progress on a 20-point peace plan, with about "90%" of the draft now agreed. Here are the main takeaways from the meeting:
The 'Thorny Issues' That Remain
President Trump said he believed a peace agreement was "close", but acknowledged that "one or two very thorny issues" remained unresolved.
He declined to give a precise figure for how much of the agreement had been finalised, but suggested it could be close to 95%. The future of the eastern Donbas region, which Russia has demanded Ukraine cede, remains one of the most contentious points.
"We're getting closer to an agreement on that. And that's a big issue," Trump said. "Certainly, that's one of the big issues, and I think we're closer."
The US has floated the idea of a "free economic zone" in parts of Donbas, under which Ukraine would withdraw from areas as part of a negotiated settlement with Russia.
Russia has been fighting in Donbas — which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions — since 2014. Moscow is now seeking through US-mediated talks what it has not achieved on the battlefield.
Zelenskyy said the question of territory remained particularly difficult.
"You know our position," he said. "We have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory which we control."
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He reiterated that any decision on territory would ultimately rest with the Ukrainian people, potentially through a referendum. Parliamentary involvement was also left open.
"We can have referendum on any kind of points of this plan," Zelenskyy said. "Of course, our society has to choose… because it's their land, the land, not of one person. It's the land of our nation for a lot of generations."
Aside from territorial questions, Zelenskyy said the leaders had discussed "all aspects" of the 20-point plan. While overall agreement stands at around 90%, he said the US and Ukraine are fully aligned on security guarantees and military issues.
"We agree that security guarantees is a key milestone in achieving lasting peace," he said.
Trump's Visit to Ukraine
President Trump said he was open to visiting Ukraine and addressing its parliament if it would help secure a peace deal, though he suggested such a trip was unlikely.
"You know, I have no problem with" travelling to Ukraine," he said. "We don't anticipate it. I would like to get the deal done and not necessarily have to go."
"I've offered to go and speak to their parliament, and you know, if that would help, I don't know that would help … but I don't even know if that's welcome," he added.
"You are welcome," Zelenskyy responded.
Rebuilding of Ukraine
Asked whether Russia would bear responsibility for rebuilding Ukraine, Trump said Moscow would play a role.
"They're going to be helping," he said. "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed."
He added that President Putin had expressed a willingness to support Ukraine's recovery, including by supplying energy and electricity at "very low prices".
Trump said Putin had not agreed to a ceasefire because he did not want to halt fighting only to resume it later. "I understand that position," the US president said.
He also said he had discussed Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — which has been under Russian control since the early stages of the war — with Putin.
"President Putin is actually working with Ukraine on getting it open," Trump said. "He's been very good in that sense. He wants to see that open."
"He hasn't hit it with missiles," he added.
Trump–Putin–Zelenskyy Meeting on the Cards?
Trump said he believed a joint meeting involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States could take place "at the right time". He appeared to suggest that Putin was also open to such talks, saying the Russian president "wants to see it happen" as negotiations continue.
