PALM BEACH (Realist English). Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever before” to a peace agreement, following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort. At the same time, Trump warned that negotiations remain complex and could still collapse, prolonging the war for years.
Trump’s comments came after what he described as an “excellent” two-and-a-half-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a subsequent in-person meeting with Zelenskyy. Trump said he believed Putin remained interested in peace, despite continued Russian strikes on Ukraine as Zelenskyy traveled to the United States.
“Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” Trump said at a joint appearance with Zelenskyy, repeatedly praising the Ukrainian leader as “brave.” Both leaders acknowledged that major obstacles remain, particularly the fate of Ukrainian territory currently under Russian control and the issue of long-term security guarantees to prevent renewed aggression.
Following their talks, Trump and Zelenskyy held a joint call with several European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland. Zelenskyy said Trump had agreed to host another meeting with European leaders in January, potentially in Washington.
Trump said he would soon speak again with Putin. The Kremlin confirmed the earlier call, describing it as “friendly and businesslike,” but signaled that Kyiv would need to take what Moscow views as “bold political decisions,” particularly regarding the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, for a full ceasefire to be reached.
Both sides identified Donbas as a central sticking point. Trump said progress was being made despite the difficulty. “That’s a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved,” he said. Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv and Moscow hold sharply different positions on the region’s future.
US and Ukrainian officials say negotiators have been exchanging draft peace proposals in recent weeks, with Zelenskyy describing a 20-point framework as “about 90% ready.” The United States has signaled willingness to offer Ukraine security guarantees similar to those extended to NATO members, even as Zelenskyy has indicated openness to pausing Ukraine’s NATO bid in exchange for robust, NATO-like protections.
Trump cautioned, however, that the talks could still unravel. “In a few weeks, we’ll know one way or the other,” he said, noting that unresolved details could derail the process.
Moscow has publicly demanded recognition of its control over occupied territories, including Crimea and parts of four eastern regions, limits on Ukraine’s armed forces, and an end to Kyiv’s NATO aspirations — conditions Ukraine has repeatedly rejected. Russian officials have also warned that any deployment of NATO troops would be treated as a hostile act.
Despite the remaining gaps, Trump argued that sustained pressure, territorial compromise and economic incentives for Russia could still produce a deal. “It’s a very detailed negotiation,” he said, underscoring that while progress has been made, the outcome remains uncertain.