Ukraine a lot closer to peace deal after talks, Donald Trump says, but one or two thorny issues remain
On December 29, 2025, Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met for about two hours at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, to discuss a 20-point peace framework intended to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Zelenskyy stated that approximately 90% of the plan had been agreed upon, with security guarantees fully agreed, and Trump estimated the agreement closer to 95%. They noted that progress had been made over the past month, and the final outcome could be known in a few weeks, although it was not a one-day process.
Despite the progress, one or two difficult issues remain unresolved, particularly relating to Ukrainian land and the status of the Donbas region. Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s differing position from Russia on Donbas, expressing that Ukraine cannot cede control over the area. The Donbas situation remains a tough issue, as Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to want control of Donbas as a condition for ending the war. The pair also discussed the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, with Trump noting that Putin wants it to remain open and has not targeted it with missiles.
The talks included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Susan Wiles, and Ukrainian delegates, with European leaders such as Sir Keir Starmer joining later. The US and Russian leaders planned to speak again promptly after the discussions.
Meanwhile, over the weekend, three Russian-guided bombs struck private homes in Sloviansk, injuring three and killing one. Downing Street affirmed that the UK remains committed to sustaining momentum and providing robust security guarantees to end the war.
