Zelenskyy and Trump Meet at Mar a Lago, Push for Peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew to Palm Beach and sat down for a one on one meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the Mar a Lago resort on Sunday, December 28, in a high profile diplomatic push aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s February 24, 2022 full scale invasion. Reporters were present as the two leaders met in the club’s main dining room and outlined a negotiating framework that centered on security guarantees, economic arrangements and the contested status of the Donbas.

The talks came amid an intensification of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, adding urgency to the discussions and highlighting the narrow diplomatic window for any breakthrough. Zelenskyy traveled to Florida to press a multi point peace plan that Ukrainian officials say could bring a stop to the fighting, while seeking assurances that any compromise would preserve Ukrainian sovereignty and international legal protections.

Central to Zelenskyy’s presentation, as described by officials, was a conditional proposal for the Donbas. He indicated he would be willing to withdraw Ukrainian forces from parts of the eastern industrial region if Russian forces also withdrew and the territory became a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. Reporting framed that idea as a negotiable concession rather than a concluded arrangement, one element among several that would require guarantees and broad international participation.

Zelenskyy made clear that Europe must have a seat at the negotiating table, saying “we must, without doubt, find some format in which not only Ukraine and the U.S. are present, but Europe is represented as well.” He also posted on social media that “Ukraine is ready to do whatever it takes to stop this war.” After the meeting he told reporters the encounter had been “great,” underscoring his intent to keep Kyiv’s diplomatic options broad.

President Trump described a pre meeting telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “very productive” and a “good and very productive telephone call.” Speaking to reporters after the Mar a Lago session, Trump said the talks had produced “a lot of progress,” and that Ukraine and Russia were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to agreeing on the Donbas. He said he believed negotiations were in their “final stages” and described Mr. Putin as “very serious” about ending the war. Mr. Trump confirmed he planned to continue direct conversations with Mr. Putin following his meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy and indicated he would meet with European leaders in January to press the diplomatic effort.

Kremlin officials signaled continued engagement after recent contacts in Florida. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian and U.S. representatives had been in contact following meetings between a Russian presidential envoy and American envoys, and that the parties agreed to continue the dialogue. U.S. envoys including a special envoy and close presidential advisers were reported to have held preparatory talks, and Mr. Zelenskyy met Canada’s prime minister earlier in the day.

The narrow prospects for progress, and the heavy toll of fighting on civilians and infrastructure, mean any tentative deal would face hard political choices in Kyiv, Moscow and across Europe. A separate claim that Russia’s foreign minister warned that European troops would be a “legitimate target” was not corroborated in the accounts available from the Mar a Lago meetings. As the new year approaches, diplomats in Washington, Kyiv and capitals across Europe will test whether these private conversations can translate into enforceable agreements that halt the fighting and secure international backing for a durable settlement.