In a significant development for global security, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced substantial progress toward a potential peace agreement to end the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The leaders met at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, December 28, 2025, projecting optimism while acknowledging critical hurdles remain.
Mar-a-Lago Summit Yields "Excellent" Progress
Following their private discussions, which also included calls with European leaders, both presidents addressed the media. President Trump stated the two sides are "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to a final deal. He characterized the negotiations as "excellent" and noted "a lot of progress" had been made, though he stopped short of declaring a major breakthrough.
"This is not a one-day process deal. This is very complicated stuff," Trump cautioned during the joint press conference. He indicated that the world would likely have clarity within a few weeks, admitting, "It's been a very difficult negotiation."
The Thorny Issues Blocking a Final Agreement
While the leaders were upbeat, they confirmed that a small number of complex issues are preventing a final signature. President Zelensky revealed that the extensive 20-point peace plan is now "90 percent" complete, a figure consistent with his assessment earlier in December.
The most advanced area appears to be security guarantees for Ukraine. Zelensky stated that the United States, Ukraine, and European partners have almost fully agreed on terms. Trump, who dislikes percentages, offered an even more optimistic view, saying he believes talks on security are "close to 95 percent."
However, both leaders declined to specify the exact nature of the remaining obstacles. Analysts widely believe the unresolved points include:
- A definitive timetable for a permanent ceasefire.
- The establishment and management of a proposed demilitarized zone.
- Control and safety protocols for the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
- The final status of the contested Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
"We could be very close. There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues, but I think we're doing very well," Trump summarized.
Diplomatic Path Forward and Putin's Role
The diplomatic machinery is now shifting into higher gear. Zelensky disclosed that Trump may host another meeting in Washington this January, bringing together Ukrainian, American, and European leaders. In the interim, their negotiating teams will meet in the coming weeks to finalize all discussed matters.
Significantly, the Mar-a-Lago talks were preceded by a direct conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump described the Sunday morning call as "a good and very productive telephone call."
In Moscow, Putin's foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, provided details. He stated that both presidents agreed a long-term peace settlement is preferable to the temporary ceasefire advocated by Ukraine and European leaders. Furthermore, Putin has accepted a US proposal to form two working groups—one on security and another on economic issues—to advance the peace talks, as reported by The New York Times.
When pressed on whether a deal could be sealed before the new year, Trump remained non-committal. The world now watches as diplomats work to bridge the final gaps in what could be a historic agreement to end Europe's largest conflict in decades.
