Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, according to multiple reports, a development that could mark a turning point in the slow-moving push to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes after renewed peace negotiations that Kyiv has publicly described as constructive, even as frustration continues to build over the lack of tangible progress.
Zelensky has confirmed that preparations are underway for a high-level meeting with Trump in the near future, signaling growing momentum behind U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts. Reports indicate the talks are likely to take place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, with Ukrainian officials saying the agenda will be broad and focused heavily on security guarantees under a possible peace deal. Zelensky has suggested that key decisions could be made before the New Year, reflecting cautious optimism from Kyiv.
Earlier this week, Ukraine released an updated 20-point peace plan that is currently under consideration. Zelensky told reporters that the proposal is about 90 percent complete, adding that each discussion brings negotiators closer to a final outcome. The plan reportedly includes difficult compromises, such as the possibility of Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of eastern Ukraine still under Kyiv’s control, provided Russia also pulls back from occupied areas. The creation of a demilitarized zone and the use of international forces to monitor a frozen front line are also being discussed, though Moscow has not publicly agreed to these ideas.
Diplomatic activity has intensified on multiple fronts. Zelensky said Ukrainian negotiators recently held nearly hour-long talks with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, describing the exchange as productive. At the same time, Russia has been engaging with U.S. officials through parallel channels. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a key figure in negotiations, traveled to Miami for talks and later briefed President Vladimir Putin. Russian presidential aides have since continued discussions with U.S. counterparts.
The core obstacles remain deeply entrenched. Russia continues to claim five Ukrainian regions, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, along with Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine has repeatedly stated that surrendering territory would violate its constitution and undermine national sovereignty. Under the proposed deal, Ukraine would receive security assurances described as “Article 5-like” guarantees from the United States, NATO, and European partners, an idea modeled on NATO’s collective defense principle. Kyiv has long argued that NATO membership is the only reliable deterrent against future Russian aggression, a position Moscow firmly rejects.
Another unresolved issue is the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which has been under Russian control since March 2022 and remains dangerously close to active front lines. Control and security of the facility remain a major concern for international negotiators.
Zelensky has visited the White House several times this year, but relations with the Trump administration have been strained, particularly after a tense Oval Office meeting earlier in the year that drew global attention. Sunday’s expected meeting is widely seen as an effort to repair that relationship and inject urgency into stalled negotiations. As Zelensky recently noted, some documents are nearly ready while others are already finalized. Whether this renewed diplomatic push can finally translate into a sustainable path toward peace remains an open question.
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