Takeaways from Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida

USA – On Sunday, a Trump-Zelenskyy meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida was held, aimed at discussing ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war, with significant progress said to have been made.

“We covered somebody would say 95%. I don’t know what percent, but we have made a lot of progress on ending that war, which is really certainly the most deadly war since World War Two, probably the biggest war since World War Two,” Trump said.

Trump said the remaining parts of the peace plan could be agreed on in “a few weeks” if work goes “really well.”

He said one or two “very thorny issues” remain in efforts to end the war, with one concerning land already taken during the conflict.

Trump also said he discussed Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding Moscow will help, “including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices.”

“Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding,” he said.

Trump also said he is ready to address Ukraine’s parliament to help advance the peace process.

“If it would help save 25,000 lives a month…I would certainly be willing to do that,” he said.

He said a trilateral meeting between himself, Putin and Zelenskyy could happen at an appropriate time.

“I see that happening at the right time,” he said.

Asked about security assurances for Ukraine, Trump said: “We want to work with Europe, and Europe is going to take over a big part of it,” adding the US will be helping Europe.

Asked if Putin agreed to a ceasefire to allow a referendum in Ukraine, Trump said Putin opposes stopping the fighting temporarily only to potentially restart again.

“I think we’re finding ways that we can get around that,” he added.

The 20-Point Plan for Ukraine Peace

Zelenskyy said they had “really great discussions on all the topics,” noting the progress made by American and Ukrainian teams in recent weeks.

He said 90% of the 20-point peace plan is agreed on, US-Ukraine security guarantees are 100% agreed, and US-Europe-Ukraine security guarantees are almost agreed, noting the military dimension is 100% agreed on and a prosperity plan is being finalized.

“We also discussed the sequencing of the following actions, and we agree that security guarantees are a key milestone in achieving lasting peace,” Zelenskyy said.

He acknowledged the difficult choices ahead, however, saying: “If the plan will be very difficult for our society…our society has to choose…because it’s their land, not of one person.”

Zelenskyy said after the talks with Trump and European leaders that “we agreed that our teams will meet in upcoming weeks to finalize all discussed issues.”

He also said that Trump will host Ukrainian and European leaders in Washington in January.

European Leaders’ Take on the Talks

US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders held a phone call Sunday to discuss “concrete steps” to end the Russia-Ukraine war, said Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

The call, which lasted more than an hour following a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, included French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Stubb said on the US social media company X’s platform.

“We discussed concrete steps how to end the war. We are all working towards a just and lasting peace,” he wrote.

Von der Leyen welcomed the progress made during the conversation.

“There was good progress, which we welcomed. Europe is ready to keep working with Ukraine and our US partners to consolidate this progress,” she said. “Paramount to this effort is to have ironclad security guarantees from day one.”

Poland’s presidential office said the status of peace talks was discussed, adding: “Today’s conversation shows that any decisions regarding peace and security in the region must be made among all interested parties.”

Trump hosted Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida to discuss the US plan to end the nearly four-year conflict.

Zelenskyy arrived in the US on Sunday following a visit to neighboring Canada.