Trump and Zelenskyy summit: 'Progress made but tough issues remain'

WISE NEWS PRESS / FLORIDA, USA — DEC. 29, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a high-stakes meeting at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, aimed at finalizing a roadmap to end the nearly four-year-old conflict. While Trump described the meeting as "great," both leaders admitted that several "tough issues" regarding territorial concessions remain unresolved.

Trump stated that the success of the peace negotiations would become clear "within a week or two," following an intense weekend of diplomatic maneuvering that included phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

95% Agreement on Security Guarantees

One of the most significant takeaways from the summit was the alignment on security for Ukraine. President Zelenskyy noted that a consensus on legal security guarantees has been reached, while President Trump took a slightly more cautious stance, describing the agreement as "95% complete."

The proposed plan suggests that the U.S. could provide Ukraine with assurances similar to NATO's Article 5 on a bilateral basis. Trump emphasized that he expects European nations to play a "major role" in the implementation of these guarantees, backed by American support.

The Donbas Standoff and Economic Zones

The control of the Donbas region remains the most contentious point of disagreement. While Washington previously suggested a full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the east, Zelenskyy is pushing for a softened version of this proposal. One option currently on the table is the creation of a "free economic zone" in the Donbas.

"The issue has not been solved, but we are much closer. It is a very difficult problem," Trump told reporters. Currently, Russia controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and 99% of Luhansk.

Diplomacy Under Fire

The summit took place against a backdrop of renewed violence, as Russia launched a massive 10-hour missile and drone strike on Kyiv over the weekend. President Zelenskyy cited these attacks as proof that "Moscow does not want peace."

Simultaneously, the Kremlin has maintained a firm stance. Following a "productive" call with Trump, Putin’s foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, stated that Russia views the proposed 60-day ceasefire as a tactic to prolong the war. The Kremlin insists that Kyiv must make an immediate decision regarding the Donbas territories to move forward with any peace deal.

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