U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are drawing closer to an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Both leaders indicated that negotiations on security guarantees for Ukraine have made progress, but the critical issue of the eastern Donbas region’s territorial status remains unresolved.

Trump and Zelenskyy met on Sunday, December 28, at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. At a joint press conference afterward, Trump stated that they had discussed nearly all topics and were “getting closer, maybe even very close” to an agreement needed to end the war. He added, however, that reaching a deal is an extremely complex process that cannot be completed in a single day.

Neither Trump nor Zelenskyy provided a timeline for finalizing an agreement. Trump said it would become clear within weeks whether the negotiations could succeed. Both acknowledged that the fate of the Donbas region remains undecided, though Trump claimed this highly contentious issue was “getting closer to resolution.”

Despite Russia launching large-scale airstrikes on Kyiv just before the talks, Trump insisted that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy are seriously seeking peace.

Zelenskyy previously said he hoped to soften the U.S. proposal requiring Ukrainian forces to fully withdraw from the Donbas—a move that would mean Ukraine relinquishing its current control over parts of the region. Russia insists on gaining full control of the entire Donbas, while Ukraine seeks a ceasefire based on current frontline positions. Russia currently controls about 90% of the Donbas.

On Sunday, Zelenskyy said the U.S. and Ukraine had reached consensus on 90% of their updated 20-point peace plan and had fully agreed on security guarantees. Trump was slightly more cautious, saying negotiations on security guarantees were 95% complete.

Neither side disclosed specific details, but Trump noted that European countries, with U.S. support, would shoulder most of the responsibility for providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy emphasized that any peace agreement must be approved by Ukraine’s parliament or through a national referendum. Trump said he would be willing to address the Ukrainian parliament if it helped secure approval for the deal.

During Sunday’s meeting in Florida, Zelenskyy and Trump also held calls with European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron later wrote on social media that members of the “coalition of the willing” would meet in Paris in early January to finalize their specific contributions to Ukraine’s security guarantees.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe stands ready to continue cooperating with Ukraine and its U.S. partners, stressing that Ukraine must receive “rock-solid” security guarantees.

Before meeting Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump spoke by phone with Putin. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the call, initiated by the U.S. side, lasted over an hour and was “friendly and pragmatic.”

Ushakov stated that the Russian and U.S. presidents agreed that temporary ceasefires proposed by Ukraine and Europe—under the guise of preparing for referendums or other pretexts—would only prolong the conflict and could lead to renewed hostilities. He urged Ukraine to make a “brave decision” and immediately withdraw its troops from the Donbas.

Ushakov also said Trump acknowledged during the call that the Ukraine crisis is the most difficult challenge he has faced but expressed confidence that Russia is committed to ending the war through political and diplomatic means. Trump stressed the urgent need to conclude the conflict and spoke of the vast potential for economic cooperation among the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.

The U.S. delegation at Sunday’s Florida talks included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, Special Presidential Envoy Keith Wittkopf, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Ukrainian delegation included Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council; General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces; and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko.

Zelenskyy said the U.S.-Ukraine negotiating teams could meet as early as this week to finalize the remaining details of the peace plan. He and Trump also agreed to hold further talks with European leaders in Washington in January.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are drawing closer to an agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Both leaders indicated that negotiations on security guarantees for Ukraine have made progress, but the critical issue of the eastern Donbas region’s territorial status remains unresolved.

Trump and Zelenskyy met on Sunday, December 28, at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. At a joint press conference afterward, Trump stated that they had discussed nearly all topics and were “getting closer, maybe even very close” to an agreement needed to end the war. He added, however, that reaching a deal is an extremely complex process that cannot be completed in a single day.

Neither Trump nor Zelenskyy provided a timeline for finalizing an agreement. Trump said it would become clear within weeks whether the negotiations could succeed. Both acknowledged that the fate of the Donbas region remains undecided, though Trump claimed this highly contentious issue was “getting closer to resolution.”

Despite Russia launching large-scale airstrikes on Kyiv just before the talks, Trump insisted that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy are seriously seeking peace.

Zelenskyy previously said he hoped to soften the U.S. proposal requiring Ukrainian forces to fully withdraw from the Donbas—a move that would mean Ukraine relinquishing its current control over parts of the region. Russia insists on gaining full control of the entire Donbas, while Ukraine seeks a ceasefire based on current frontline positions. Russia currently controls about 90% of the Donbas.

On Sunday, Zelenskyy said the U.S. and Ukraine had reached consensus on 90% of their updated 20-point peace plan and had fully agreed on security guarantees. Trump was slightly more cautious, saying negotiations on security guarantees were 95% complete.

Neither side disclosed specific details, but Trump noted that European countries, with U.S. support, would shoulder most of the responsibility for providing security guarantees to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy emphasized that any peace agreement must be approved by Ukraine’s parliament or through a national referendum. Trump said he would be willing to address the Ukrainian parliament if it helped secure approval for the deal.

During Sunday’s meeting in Florida, Zelenskyy and Trump also held calls with European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron later wrote on social media that members of the “coalition of the willing” would meet in Paris in early January to finalize their specific contributions to Ukraine’s security guarantees.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe stands ready to continue cooperating with Ukraine and its U.S. partners, stressing that Ukraine must receive “rock-solid” security guarantees.

Before meeting Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump spoke by phone with Putin. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the call, initiated by the U.S. side, lasted over an hour and was “friendly and pragmatic.”

Ushakov stated that the Russian and U.S. presidents agreed that temporary ceasefires proposed by Ukraine and Europe—under the guise of preparing for referendums or other pretexts—would only prolong the conflict and could lead to renewed hostilities. He urged Ukraine to make a “brave decision” and immediately withdraw its troops from the Donbas.

Ushakov also said Trump acknowledged during the call that the Ukraine crisis is the most difficult challenge he has faced but expressed confidence that Russia is committed to ending the war through political and diplomatic means. Trump stressed the urgent need to conclude the conflict and spoke of the vast potential for economic cooperation among the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.

The U.S. delegation at Sunday’s Florida talks included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, Special Presidential Envoy Keith Wittkopf, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Ukrainian delegation included Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council; General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces; and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko.

Zelenskyy said the U.S.-Ukraine negotiating teams could meet as early as this week to finalize the remaining details of the peace plan. He and Trump also agreed to hold further talks with European leaders in Washington in January.