President Donald Trump said negotiations aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia may be approaching a breakthrough following his meeting Sunday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago and a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking after the Florida meeting, Trump said negotiating teams were “maybe very close” to a peace agreement and suggested that most of the major issues had been addressed. He said discussions covered nearly all of the elements required to end the conflict, though significant obstacles remain.
Zelenskyy also signaled progress, pointing to broad agreement on security guarantees involving the United States, Ukraine and European partners, as well as consensus on military-related provisions. He said teams are continuing to work through remaining details, including how future steps would be sequenced.
Territory remains the most difficult issue in the talks. Trump acknowledged that land seized during the war, particularly in eastern Ukraine, continues to be disputed. He said progress had been made on the idea of territory arrangements and a possible demilitarized zone in the Donbas region, but cautioned that no final agreement has been reached. Russian demands that Ukraine relinquish the Donbas entirely remain unresolved.
Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine’s position on sovereignty is unchanged, noting that Kyiv must respect its laws and the will of its people. He acknowledged that Ukraine and Russia continue to hold sharply different views on territorial questions, underscoring why negotiations remain challenging.
A potential ceasefire is another sticking point. Trump said Russia has expressed concern about halting fighting only to see hostilities resume later, complicating proposals for a temporary pause that could allow for referendums or other political steps. He said negotiators are working to find alternatives that could move the process forward.
Despite continued Russian attacks on Ukraine, including heavy drone strikes reported overnight ahead of the meeting, Trump said he believes Putin is serious about pursuing peace. He added that both Ukrainian and Russian populations want the war to end.
Source: ABC News