US President Donald Trump has claimed that peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war are now “closer than ever before,” following what he described as a “terrific meeting” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Trump, who has repeatedly promised to secure a ceasefire early in his second term, acknowledged that despite progress, the talks remain challenging and could still collapse, potentially prolonging the devastating conflict for years.
Trump stated that the coming weeks would be crucial in determining whether a meaningful breakthrough was possible in the war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“We’ve done very well. We’ve had discussions on just about every subject,” Trump told reporters after the meeting. He added that both sides had “made a lot of progress on ending that war.”
Much like Zelensky’s previous interaction with Trump in October, the meeting was preceded by a phone conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump insisted afterward that Moscow appeared “serious” about pursuing peace despite its ongoing military campaign.
“I really believe we’re probably closer than ever before with both parties,” Trump said, adding, “Everybody wants it ended.”
However, both Trump and Zelensky acknowledged that the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region remains the most contentious issue in negotiations. “That’s a very tough issue but one that I think will get resolved,” Trump said confidently.
Following their talks, Trump and Zelensky jointly spoke with key European leaders via telephone. European nations remain deeply concerned about any peace terms that might strengthen Russia or legitimize territorial aggression.
Zelensky confirmed that he, along with European leaders, may return to Washington in January for further discussions.
Throughout the visit, Zelensky maintained a measured and diplomatic tone. His approach appeared notably careful after his controversial February 28 White House visit, during which Trump and US Vice President JD Vance publicly criticized him for what they called insufficient gratitude toward US support.
As the war drags on with mounting casualties and global political stakes rising, hopes now hinge on whether these high-level engagements can translate into concrete steps toward peace—or whether the conflict will continue unresolved.