The president of the United States and his Ukrainian counterpart will meet face to face next Sunday, December 28, in the southern state
Although Moscow's and Kyiv's demands remain divergent, the process has shown signs of progress. From Russia, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, María Zajárova, acknowledged this week "slow but steady progress" in the talks.
The plan backed by Zelenski would avoid the formal recognition of Ukrainian territories as part of Russia, although any final agreement would have to be approved by the Ukrainian population through a referendum.
Other key measures include a complete ceasefire, the calling of elections in Ukraine, security guarantees coordinated by the United States, NATO, and Europe in the event of new Russian aggression, a limit on the size of the Ukrainian army in peacetime, and a clear commitment to Ukraine's future accession to the European Union.
On the military front, Ukraine recently achieved a significant breakthrough by regaining control of the logistical hub of Kupyansk, just days after Russia claimed to have taken the city.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War, based in Washington, noted that Russia currently lacks the human and material resources needed to conquer the rest of the Donetsk region, which reinforces the urgency of a negotiated solution.
As the fighting continues, both sides continue to exchange strategic attacks. Ukraine reported that it had hit a major Russian refinery with British-made Storm Shadow missiles, while Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, seeking to weaken the country during the winter.
In this context, the meeting between Trump and Zelenski is seen as a decisive step. Trump has reiterated that the United States is leading the process and is confident that an agreement is possible if there is political will.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodímir Zelenski, are scheduled to meet this Sunday at Trump's residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, in a new attempt to move toward ending the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting, confirmed by a White House official, is part of an intense diplomatic offensive led by Trump to reach a peace agreement before the end of the year.
Zelenski confirmed the meeting to the press, noting that it is a meeting "of the highest level" and stating that "many things can be decided before the New Year." According to official sources, the meeting was coordinated after recent contacts between Trump's team and the Ukrainian leadership, including direct exchanges with the U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The Ukrainian leader described those talks as "very good" and publicly thanked Trump's representatives for their constructive approach. In a message posted on the social network X, Zelenski emphasized that Ukraine is working "24 hours a day" to bring the conflict closer to an end and to ensure that any agreement is "realistic, effective, and reliable."
The meeting comes at a key moment, after Zelenski expressed his willingness to withdraw Ukrainian troops from parts of the country's industrial east as part of an ambitious 20-point peace plan promoted with U.S. mediation.
Among the most relevant proposals is the creation of a free and demilitarized economic zone in the Donbas region, under international supervision, in exchange for a total cessation of hostilities by Russia.
Trump has taken on a central role in efforts to end the war, promoting direct negotiations and pressuring both sides to narrow their differences.
