Trump, Zelenskyy say peace deal for Ukraine is ‘close’ but ‘thorny issues’ remain

PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that they believe a peace agreement to end the brutal war between Russia and Ukraine is “close” but warned that several thorny issues remain.

The two leaders expressed much optimism after a nearly three-hour meeting at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. Despite the hopeful tone, both men emphasized that negotiations were complex and neither would put a firm timeline on when a deal could be reached.

“We could be very close,” said Mr. Trump, standing alongside Mr. Zelenskyy. “There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues, but I think we’re doing very well. We’ve made a lot of progress today.”

Mr. Trump acknowledged that the fate of the eastern Donbas region remains a tricky issue to solve. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded the entire Donbas region, including areas that Russia’s army does not now control. Mr. Zelenskyy has been steadfast in his insistence that he will not give up any territory as part of a peace deal.

“We’re getting closer to an agreement on that. And that’s a big issue,” Mr. Trump said. “Certainly, that’s one of the big issues, and I think we’re closer.”

Moscow has proposed that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the territory to create a demilitarized zone. Mr. Zelenskyy has countered by suggesting the creation of an economic free zone with international troops and monitors.

Mr. Zelenskyy underscored his refusal to give up territory but said the question must ultimately be answered by the people of Ukraine.

He said having a voter referendum or a parliamentary vote on any part of a 20-point peace plan put forth by the U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators, including ceding territory, is possible.

“You know our position,” he said. “We have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory which we control.”

He said Ukrainians should vote on the territory issue because “it’s their land, the land not of one person. It’s the land of our nation for a lot of generations.”

The Ukrainian president said he discussed “all aspects” of the 20-point peace plan with Mr. Trump and noted that there was much agreement.

Mr. Zelenskyy said 90% of the plan is agreed upon and the U.S. and Ukraine achieved 100% agreement on the security guarantees and the military dimension.

Mr. Zelenskyy has pushed for security guarantees from the U.S. against future Russian aggression and pledges of military support from European leaders. Ukraine would have a peacetime military of 800,000 troops to deter Russia from attacking again. 

Russia has strongly opposed the proposal.

Mr. Trump declined to put a percentage on the terms that have been agreed but estimated it could be 95%.

Hours before his meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, Mr. Trump had a roughly 2½-hour phone call with Mr. Putin. The U.S. president described the call as “good and very productive” but did not elaborate on what they discussed.

A Kremlin spokesperson said the two leaders agreed that a temporary truce would not stop the fighting in Ukraine.

Mr. Putin has repeatedly rejected proposals for ceasefires and has refused to meet with Mr. Zelenskyy, deriding him as an illegitimate president. He has not budged from his demands for large swaths of Ukrainian territory and has opposed the idea of European and U.S. peacekeepers.

Russia carried out brutal drone and missile attacks on Kyiv this weekend. At least four people were killed and 30 wounded in the Ukrainian capital, authorities said.

An energy grid attack early Saturday wiped out heat in a third of Kyiv and caused widespread power outages.

Despite the carnage, Mr. Trump dismissed claims that Mr. Putin isn’t serious about peace.

“No, he’s very serious. I think, you know, I can say that. I believe Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also,” Mr. Trump said.

“Look, the people of Ukraine want it to end, and the people of Russia want it to end, and the two leaders want it to end,” he said.

Earlier this month, White House foreign envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, had a five-hour meeting with Mr. Putin in Moscow, but it did not yield a final peace deal.

After meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on his way to Florida, Mr. Zelenskyy said “sufficient pressure” should be placed on Russia after the weekend attack.

“Russia continues to mock our cities and people. Moscow has rejected even the proposals for a Christmas ceasefire and is increasing the ferocity of its missile and drone strikes. This is a clear signal of how they really feel about diplomacy,” Mr. Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

“So far, it has not been taken seriously enough. Therefore, Ukraine needs sufficient support. And sufficient pressure needs to be put on Russia,” he said.

At the conclusion of their meeting, Mr. Zelenskyy and Mr. Trump spoke by phone with several European leaders who have been key in negotiating an end to the war. That includes the leaders of Britain, Italy, Norway, Finland and Poland.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelenskyy have met several times in the past year, most notably in February, when an Oval Office sit-down deteriorated into a shouting match between the two men and Vice President J.D. Vance.

Mr. Trump met with Mr. Putin in Alaska earlier this year.

• Vaughn Cockayne contributed to this report.