According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on the afternoon of Dec. 28. After the meeting, Trump stated that territorial issues regarding Ukraine remain unresolved, but the two sides have reached "about 95%" consensus on a "20-point peace proposal."
Trump: Ukrainian Territorial Issues Still Unresolved
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky lasted approximately three hours. Speaking at a joint press conference afterward, Trump acknowledged that territorial disputes involving Ukraine are still pending but expressed confidence they would be resolved. He noted that "significant progress" had been made in discussions aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with consensus reached on "about 95%" of the 20-point peace plan, though one or two "very tough" issues remain.
Regarding the future of the Donbas region, Trump indicated that the positions of Ukraine and Russia are moving closer, but the matter remains highly complex.
Before the meeting, while welcoming Zelensky at the entrance of Mar-a-Lago, Trump told reporters that both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin "want to reach an agreement." He also mentioned plans to speak with Putin again after the meeting with Zelensky.
Trump stated that there will be a "strong" security guarantee agreement for Ukraine, with European countries participating. During the meeting, he and Zelensky also held phone calls with European leaders.
Zelensky added that 90% of the 20-point "peace plan" jointly drafted by Ukraine and the United States has been completed, thanks to the collaborative efforts of both teams.
U.S. media reported that the American delegation included the Secretary of State, the Defense Secretary, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House Chief of Staff, the Presidential Envoy Wittkopf, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and a Senior General Services Administration official. The latter three had met with Russian representatives in Florida over the weekend.
According to Ukrainian media, the Ukrainian delegation included the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the Minister of Economy.
Trump-Putin Phone Call Before the Meeting
On the morning of Dec. 28, Trump posted on social media that he had a "good and productive" phone call with Putin.
Russian Presidential Assistant Ushakov stated on the 28th that Putin and Trump held a phone call earlier in the day, during which both sides agreed that a temporary ceasefire under the pretext of a referendum would only prolong the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Citing Ushakov, Russia Today reported that the call between Putin and Trump lasted about one hour and 15 minutes and was conducted in a friendly and practical manner. Trump emphasized the need to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict as soon as possible.
Ushakov added that Russia and the U.S. are forming two working groups to address security issues and economic affairs separately. He stated that for the military conflict to end completely, Ukraine must make political decisions regarding the Donbas region (primarily Donetsk and Luhansk).
Ushakov also noted that during the call, Trump expressed his belief that Russia seeks to resolve the Ukraine crisis through political and diplomatic means and assured that he would take this into account during his meeting with Zelensky. After the meeting concludes, Trump will communicate with Putin again to discuss the outcomes.
In an interview with U.S. media on Dec. 26, Zelensky stated that he hopes to reach a framework agreement on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict during his meeting with Trump on Dec. 28, including a proposed "timetable." He also mentioned that if Russia agrees to at least a 60-day ceasefire, he would be willing to submit the proposed Russia-Ukraine "peace plan" to a public referendum.
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