The meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky took place on December 28, 2025, at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Florida. The two leaders discussed a potential peace agreement to end the nearly four-year-long Russia-Ukraine war.
20 Point Draft Proposal
Zelensky had expressed optimism about the talks, stating that a 20-point draft proposal was “about 90% ready”. The Ukrainian president highlighted that the meeting would focus on refining draft agreements, including economic arrangements and security guarantees.
Trump, however, remained cautious, stating that he wouldn’t approve anything until he was satisfied. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump said of Zelensky.
The meeting addressed several key issues, including territorial disputes, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and funding for Ukraine’s postwar recovery. Zelensky emphasized that any territorial concessions would require public approval through a referendum.
Security Guarantees To Ukraine
Trump and Zelensky also discussed security guarantees, with the US proposing that Europe assume a significant portion of the responsibility. The leaders agreed that security guarantees were a crucial milestone in achieving lasting peace.
The talks were held against the backdrop of Russia’s recent intensified attacks on Ukraine’s capital, which killed at least one person and injured 27 others. Zelensky condemned the attacks, stating that Putin didn’t want peace.
Trump described the meeting as “terrific” and said the agreement was “a lot closer”, estimating that they were around 95% there. He acknowledged, however, that the fate of the eastern Donbas region remained an outstanding issue.
Zelensky thanked Trump for hosting the talks and announced that European and Ukrainian teams would continue working on the agreement, with further talks scheduled in the US in January.
The Ukrainian president also briefed European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on the meeting’s progress.
Trump has been working to end the war in Ukraine, showing irritation with both Zelensky and Putin while acknowledging the difficulty of ending the conflict.
The meeting’s outcome remains uncertain, with Russia accusing Ukraine and its European backers of trying to “torpedo” a previous US-brokered plan.
Zelensky’s team has been pushing for anti-Russia assurances, while Trump has urged Ukraine to be grateful for US aid.
The encounter highlights Ukraine’s challenge in balancing Western support with its war goals, influencing US policy in the region.
The leaders’ relationship has been complicated by past controversies, including Trump’s 2019 impeachment scandal.
The meeting ended without a firm resolution, with Trump stating that they would know the outcome “in a few weeks”.
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