Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he plans to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday as part of ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Zelensky said the meeting would focus on advancing a U.S.-mediated peace framework, though he cautioned that no final agreement was guaranteed. The comments were first reported by CNN.
Peace Plan “90% Ready”
Zelensky said a 20-point peace plan developed by Ukrainian and American officials is “90 percent ready” and could serve as a foundational document for ending the war. He said the talks with Trump would aim to “finalize as much as we can” before the end of the year.
Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian leader wrote on X that “a lot can be decided before the New Year,” signaling cautious optimism about the negotiations.
Security Guarantees Central to Talks
Zelensky said discussions with Trump would focus heavily on long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. Kyiv is seeking assurances from allies that would mirror NATO’s Article 5, which obligates collective defense, even if Ukraine does not formally join the alliance.
He confirmed that Ukraine would no longer pursue full NATO membership under the current proposal, a major concession aimed at addressing one of Moscow’s longstanding demands.
No Immediate White House Confirmation
There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting from the White House. U.S. officials familiar with the talks said they were hopeful the meeting would be productive after weeks of intensive negotiations between Ukrainian and American teams.
The meeting is not expected to include European leaders, according to U.S. and European officials. However, Zelensky said he had already spoken with leaders from NATO, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark, and Estonia to coordinate positions ahead of the talks.
Territorial Concessions on the Table
Zelensky confirmed Ukraine is willing to consider withdrawing troops from parts of the Donetsk region not currently occupied by Russian forces, provided Moscow reciprocates by relinquishing an equivalent amount of Ukrainian territory. He said such areas would become demilitarized zones.
Earlier proposals suggested these regions could later be designated as “free economic zones” once all troops were withdrawn, an idea reportedly pushed by U.S. negotiators.
Russian Response Remains Unclear
Ukraine has not received an official response from Moscow to the latest proposal. Zelensky said Kyiv is negotiating exclusively with Washington, which is then communicating directly with the Kremlin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has reviewed the proposals and confirmed that senior aide Yuri Ushakov has held discussions with members of the Trump administration, though no timeline was provided.
Pressure on Moscow Still an Option
Zelensky warned that if Russia rejects what he described as a constructive proposal, additional pressure may be necessary. “If Ukraine shows its position is constructive and Russia does not agree, then the pressure is not enough,” he said, adding that he intends to raise the issue directly with Trump.
Ukraine’s constitution requires any permanent border changes to be approved by a national referendum. Zelensky reiterated that “the fate of Ukraine should be decided by the people of Ukraine,” and said allies have sufficient leverage to ensure such a vote could be held safely.
High-Stakes Meeting Ahead
The planned Florida meeting comes at a pivotal moment in the war, as battlefield dynamics, diplomatic pressure, and domestic politics in multiple countries converge. While European officials have expressed cautious optimism, one NATO official warned that “there is no low-risk scenario” when dealing with Trump.
Whether Sunday’s talks will translate into a breakthrough remains uncertain, but both sides appear intent on testing how close they can come to a deal before the new year.
