Zelensky To Meet Trump As US Led Peace Plan Nears Completion

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet United States President Donald Trump on Sunday in Florida, a meeting that could shape the next phase of diplomatic efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. The talks come at a critical moment as a US led peace framework and a long term security guarantee agreement move closer to completion.

Zelensky has described the meeting as an opportunity to refine key elements of the draft plan and to discuss possible economic arrangements involving Ukraine. He said that significant decisions could be made before the end of the year, underlining the urgency felt in Kyiv as Washington intensifies its push for a negotiated settlement to Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

According to Zelensky, a proposed 20 point peace framework is now around 90 percent complete, while a separate security guarantee agreement between Ukraine and the United States is almost ready. Speaking to reporters via a WhatsApp chat, the Ukrainian leader stressed that the talks with Trump would focus on resolving remaining disagreements and clarifying commitments.

The security guarantee discussions are particularly sensitive for Ukraine. Kyiv remains deeply cautious after previous international assurances failed to prevent Russia’s full scale invasion. As a result, Ukrainian officials are seeking robust and legally binding guarantees that would deter any future aggression and provide long term stability.

Zelensky told US media outlet Axios that Washington had proposed a 15 year security arrangement that could be renewed. Ukraine, however, is pushing for a longer term commitment, reflecting its desire for enduring protection rather than a temporary solution.

Trump, speaking in an interview with Politico, made it clear that no plan would move forward without his approval. He said he believed the upcoming meeting would go well, but added that he wanted to personally review what Zelensky was bringing to the table.

Despite progress on the broader framework, territorial issues continue to be the most difficult barrier to a final agreement. Zelensky has said that discussions with Trump will include the future of Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as well as other sensitive matters tied to land and sovereignty.

Russia is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the eastern Donetsk region that Russian forces have not fully occupied, as Moscow seeks total control over Donbas, which includes both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ukraine firmly rejects this demand and wants any ceasefire or settlement to freeze the fighting along current front lines.

The United States has floated a compromise idea involving the creation of a free economic zone should Ukraine leave parts of the Donetsk region. However, the proposal has so far lacked details on governance, security and economic oversight, leaving many questions unanswered.

Zelensky has signaled a willingness to take an unprecedented step if talks stall. He said that if he cannot persuade Washington to support what he calls Ukraine’s strong position on land issues, he would consider putting the 20 point plan to a national referendum. Such a vote, he emphasized, would only be possible if Russia agreed to a 60 day ceasefire to allow time for preparation and public debate.

Trump has at times expressed frustration with the pace of negotiations, but he has also indicated openness to direct engagement if meaningful progress is possible. He said he expects to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, suggesting that parallel talks with Moscow could follow his meeting with Zelensky.

European leaders may also take part in the process. Zelensky has said that some European officials could join discussions online, reflecting the wider international stakes involved. In recent days, he has consulted with several European leaders, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is widely seen as having a close working relationship with Trump.

These consultations highlight Europe’s interest in ensuring that any agreement protects regional security and does not reward aggression. For many European capitals, the outcome of the US led talks will have lasting implications for NATO, EU security policy and relations with Russia.

From Moscow, reactions have been mixed. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Ukraine’s version of the 20 point plan differs sharply from what Russia has been discussing with the United States. Still, he suggested that late December 2025 could be remembered as a turning point, when the sides moved closer to a potential solution.

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, has been in contact with members of the Trump administration after Russia received US proposals related to a possible peace deal. However, Moscow has not publicly detailed its assessment of the documents.

Russian media have also reported signs of tactical flexibility. Kommersant newspaper said Putin told some of Russia’s leading businessmen that he might be open to exchanging certain territories under Russian control elsewhere in Ukraine, but only if Moscow secured full control of Donbas in return. Kyiv has not commented on that report.

Despite diplomatic movement, the war on the ground continues. Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and stepped up attacks on the southern region of Odesa, home to the country’s main seaports. On Friday, a Russian attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv killed two people, underscoring the human cost of the ongoing conflict even as talks advance.

Beyond security and territory, Zelensky has said the Florida meeting will also cover potential economic deals involving Ukraine. While details remain limited, Kyiv sees economic recovery and investment as essential pillars of any post war settlement.

Ukraine’s economy has been severely strained by years of fighting, infrastructure damage and reduced exports. Discussions with the United States are expected to explore long term reconstruction support, trade arrangements and investment frameworks that could help stabilize and rebuild the country.

Zelensky has been careful not to raise expectations prematurely. He said he is not yet ready to say whether any formal agreements will be signed during the visit, but stressed that Ukraine is open to concluding deals if conditions are right.

Zelensky has made clear that alongside negotiations, he wants the United States to maintain and potentially increase pressure on Russia. He plans to raise this issue directly with Trump, arguing that sustained diplomatic and economic pressure is necessary to bring Moscow to a genuine compromise.

For Kyiv, talks without leverage risk repeating past failures, when ceasefires collapsed and agreements were ignored. The Ukrainian leadership believes that only a combination of firm security guarantees, economic support and continued pressure on Russia can deliver a durable peace.

As the year draws to a close, the upcoming meeting between Zelensky and Trump stands out as one of the most consequential diplomatic moments of 2025. With a peace framework nearing completion, security guarantees on the table and territorial disputes still unresolved, the discussions in Florida could determine whether momentum toward a settlement is sustained or stalls once again.

While major obstacles remain, the convergence of US, Ukrainian, European and even tentative Russian engagement suggests that the conflict may be entering a new phase. Whether that phase leads to peace or prolonged uncertainty will depend heavily on the decisions made in the coming days.

For now, all eyes are on Sunday’s meeting, as Ukraine, the United States and their partners weigh the difficult compromises required to end a war that has reshaped Europe’s security landscape and defined global geopolitics for nearly four years.