Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced plans to meet United States President, Donald Trump, in Florida on Sunday as part of efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Zelensky emphasized caution, saying he could not predict whether the meeting would result in a firm agreement, but added that both sides would aim to “finalize as much as we can.” Earlier in the day, he expressed optimism on X, noting that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.”
Zelensky revealed that the 20-point peace plan developed by Ukrainian and US officials is “90% ready” and said he would discuss with Trump how Ukraine’s allies could ensure the country’s future security.
Trump, in an interview with Politico, said he expects the meeting to “go good,” but cautioned that Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.” He also indicated he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon, as much as I want.”
US officials expressed hope that the meeting would be productive following a week of intensive discussions between US and Ukrainian negotiators.
While no specific outcome was cited, Zelensky told Axios that he aims to establish a framework to end the conflict.
European leaders will not attend Sunday’s meeting, according to US and European sources.
Ukraine has been advocating for direct talks with Trump for months. Although Europeans view the current US-Ukraine dynamic as productive, they acknowledge that “there is no low-risk scenario with Trump,” as one NATO official put it.
In preparation, Zelensky said he had coordinated positions with leaders from NATO, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark, and Estonia.
“Ukraine has never been and will never be an obstacle to peace, and we will continue working efficiently to ensure all necessary documents are prepared as quickly as possible,” he stated.
The announcement follows Zelensky’s willingness to compromise on key sticking points that have slowed the US-mediated peace process with Russia. Whether his concessions will satisfy Moscow remains unclear.
The original 28-point plan from November, drafted after US-Russia talks, faced criticism from Ukraine’s allies for favoring Moscow.
After weeks of negotiations with US officials, it has been condensed into the current 20-point version, which Zelensky described as a “foundational document on ending the war.”
Regarding Russia’s response, Zelensky noted that Ukraine had not received official feedback.
“In my opinion, I see now that the agreement between us and the United States is almost ready,” he said, adding that any peace deal would still require approval from Russia and European allies.
If Russia rejects the proposed plan, Zelensky suggested that stronger measures may be necessary. “If Ukraine shows its position, it is constructive – and Russia, for example, does not agree, then the (existing) pressure is not enough,” he said, noting that he plans to discuss this with Trump.
The Kremlin’s central demands remain for Ukraine to abandon NATO ambitions and for Kyiv to withdraw its forces from the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as the Donbas, which Russia annexed in September 2022 after years of destabilization.
Zelensky has offered concessions on both issues. He told reporters that Ukraine seeks security guarantees that would “mirror” NATO’s Article 5 but would no longer pursue full membership.
He also expressed willingness to pull troops from parts of Donetsk not controlled by Russia, with withdrawals being reciprocal and demilitarized. US negotiators want these areas to become “free economic zones” once troops withdraw.
Ukraine’s constitution mandates a referendum for any border changes. Zelensky emphasized, “the fate of Ukraine should be decided by the people of Ukraine,” adding that allies “have enough power to force Russia or to negotiate with the Russians” to secure a safe plebiscite.
The Kremlin, however, shows little flexibility. Russian officials continue to insist on Ukraine’s full troop withdrawal from the Donbas.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy aide to Putin, had engaged with Trump administration officials after Moscow received Ukraine’s latest proposals, though he did not specify when.
