Following initial reports of optimism, the Mar-a-Lago meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded without a final breakthrough. Progress was noted on security guarantees and Donbass, with a revised US peace plan outlined; further team talks are set, as battlefield clashes intensify.
US President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Sunday for talks on ending the Ukraine war. Building on earlier optimism, Trump described the discussion as 'fantastic' and indicated a deal could emerge 'in a few weeks' if momentum holds. Zelenskyy called it a 'great discussion,' claiming security guarantees were '100 percent solved'—a figure Trump adjusted to '95 percent.'
Progress was also made on the contested Donbass region, though Trump noted it 'is not solved yet, but we are getting closer.' Central to the talks is a revised 20-point US plan envisioning a freeze along current front lines, establishment of a demilitarized buffer zone—Ukraine's largest territorial concession—and Russian assistance in rebuilding, without requiring full troop withdrawals from Donbass or Ukraine's renunciation of NATO aspirations.
Trump had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone beforehand, praising his peace commitment despite Moscow's prior rejection signals, including Putin's threats of violence to seize Donetsk and Luhansk. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev welcomed the efforts on X, stating 'the whole world appreciates the peace efforts of President Trump and his team.'
European leaders participated via teleconference, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who cited 'good progress' on security. Zelenskyy announced follow-up team meetings in coming weeks, potentially in January in Washington.
Parallel to diplomacy, fighting escalated: Russia launched over 500 drones and missiles, while Ukraine conducted drone strikes on Moscow, grounding more than 300 flights.