A peace deal to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine is “closer than ever,” according to US President Donald Trump, following a high-stakes meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that settled the critical issue of security guarantees.
In a decisive diplomatic sprint before the New Year, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday (December 28) for nearly three hours of intensive negotiations. After the summit, both leaders announced that a comprehensive 20-point peace framework is now 90% to 95% agreed, with a breakthrough consensus reached on the “thorny” issue of security guarantees for Kyiv.
The meeting, described by Trump as “terrific” and “substantive,” focused on nailing down the details of a plan that’s been months in the making.
- Security Guarantees: Zelenskyy confirmed that security arrangements, a core demand for Ukraine to prevent future Russian aggression, are now 100% agreed. These include bilateral US-Ukraine guarantees and a broader US-Europe-Ukraine framework.
- The Military Dimension: The technical and military aspects of the peace plan are also fully settled, according to the leaders.
- Remaining Hurdles: Despite the optimism, Trump acknowledged “one or two thorny issues” remain. The most significant is the status of the Donbas region and territorial control, which Trump labeled “unresolved but getting closer.”
- Diplomatic Coordination: Right after their talk, the two leaders held a joint phone call with key European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to coordinate the international response.
The 20-Point Plan
While the full text remains confidential, details of the 20-point framework include:
- Immediate Ceasefire: A primary provision to stop the ongoing Russian offensive.
- Post-War Elections: A commitment for Ukraine to hold national elections as soon as it’s safe.
- Economic Recovery: A long-term roadmap for reconstruction and joint investment in mineral resources and energy infrastructure.
- NATO Status: The plan reportedly blocks immediate NATO membership but places no restrictions on Ukraine’s future weaponry or non-NATO security alliances.
“I really believe we’re probably closer than ever before with both parties. Everybody wants it to end,” President Trump said, standing alongside Zelenskyy in the Mar-a-Lago tea room. He added that he plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue the negotiations.
“I thank President Trump for a great meeting. We had a substantive discussion… We agreed that security guarantees are a key milestone in achieving lasting peace,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, though he stayed firm that Ukraine must “respect its law and its people and the territory which we control.”
The Florida summit was overshadowed by a fresh wave of Russian strikes on Kyiv just 24 hours earlier, a move Zelenskyy cited as proof that Moscow “does not want to end the war.” But Trump insisted Putin is “serious” about a deal this time, noting the Russian leader also spoke with him by phone for over two hours leading up to the Sunday meeting.
The diplomatic momentum is set to pick up in the coming weeks. Technical teams from both countries will meet as early as next week to “finalize all discussed matters.” Trump is also expected to host a major gathering of Ukrainian and European leaders in Washington, D.C., in January to potentially sign the final accord.
Also Read / ‘A lot can be decided’: Zelenskyy heads to Florida for high-stakes Trump summit.
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