US President Donald Trump has declared that negotiations to secure a peace deal for Ukraine are now "closer than ever before" following a high-stakes summit with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. The meeting, held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday 29 December 2025, marked a significant push to end the prolonged conflict, though both leaders admitted several complex hurdles remain unresolved.
Security Guarances and Remaining Stumbling Blocks
During a joint press conference, President Trump revealed that talks on a critical US security guarantee for Ukraine—a cornerstone of any potential peace agreement—are "close to 95 per cent" finalised. President Zelensky provided further detail, stating the 20-point draft peace plan was 90 per cent agreed. He confirmed that bilateral US-Ukraine security guarantees were "100 per cent agreed", while trilateral US-Europe-Ukraine guarantees were "almost agreed".
However, a major unresolved issue is the future status of the Donbas region. Trump identified the prospect of creating a free trade zone in Donbas as a particularly "big issue". Zelensky reiterated that any agreement involving territorial concessions, such as a demilitarised zone, would require approval from the Ukrainian parliament or a national referendum, a logistically complex undertaking that would include refugees living abroad.
International Coordination and Putin's Position
The Florida talks were part of a broader diplomatic effort. The two leaders held a conference call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. It was agreed that President Trump would host European leaders and a Ukrainian delegation for further discussions in January, potentially in Washington.
On the Russian position, Trump, who spoke with President Vladimir Putin by phone earlier on Sunday, insisted the Russian leader is "very serious" about peace and discussed Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, suggesting "Russia's going to be helping". Despite this, Putin has not yet agreed to a ceasefire to facilitate a potential referendum in Ukraine. Zelensky continues to resist Russian demands to cede the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
The Path Forward and European Demands
In the aftermath, Zelensky thanked Trump and announced that representatives from both nations would meet as early as the next week to finalise details. He emphasised that security guarantees are key to achieving a lasting peace.
European leaders have outlined additional conditions for any deal. These include a role for NATO forces in monitoring a ceasefire, allowing Ukraine to maintain a substantial peacetime military, and supporting its path to EU membership. Downing Street stated that Sir Keir Starmer, during the call, underlined the importance of robust security guarantees and reaffirmed the urgency of ending the war, with Trump highlighting the UK Prime Minister's leadership in driving coordinated international support.
This summit represents the latest stage in Trump's year-long effort to broker a ceasefire, having previously vowed to end the war on his first day in office. While significant progress on security frameworks is claimed, the path to a final, comprehensive peace agreement remains fraught with diplomatic and political complexity.
