Trump Says U.S. and Ukraine Near Peace Deal, but Key Disputes Still Unresolved

Post by : Saif Nasser

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the United States and Ukraine are moving closer to a possible peace deal to end the long-running war with Russia. Speaking after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Florida, Trump said progress has been made, but some difficult issues are still not settled.

The two leaders met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort and later spoke together at a joint news conference. Trump said the talks were positive and that the two sides were “a lot closer, maybe very close” to an agreement. However, he admitted that the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region remains a major obstacle.

President Zelenskiy said Ukraine and the U.S. have reached an understanding on security guarantees, which he called the most important step toward lasting peace. These guarantees would aim to protect Ukraine from future attacks after the war ends. Trump was more cautious, saying the agreement on security was about 95% complete and that European countries would play a large role, with support from the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron also welcomed the progress. He said countries in a group known as the “Coalition of the Willing” will meet in Paris in early January to decide how they can help provide security for Ukraine. European leaders have stressed that strong guarantees are necessary if peace is to hold.

The biggest unresolved issue is the Donbas region, which Russia wants fully under its control. Ukraine currently holds parts of the area and does not want to give them up easily. Zelenskiy has resisted a U.S. proposal that would see Ukrainian forces withdraw completely from Donbas. While Russia wants the whole region, Ukraine prefers to freeze the conflict along current battle lines.

Trump said discussions on Donbas are “moving in the right direction” but admitted the matter is very tough. The United States has suggested turning the area into a free economic zone if Ukraine withdraws, though how this would work is still unclear.

Before meeting Zelenskiy, Trump also held a long phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump described the conversation as productive, while the Kremlin called it friendly. According to Russian officials, Putin opposed a proposed 60-day ceasefire, saying it would only prolong the war. Trump said Putin offered to help rebuild Ukraine after the war, including supplying cheap energy.

Another topic discussed was the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. U.S. negotiators have suggested shared control of the plant. Trump said progress has been made and praised Russia for not attacking the facility recently.

Despite ongoing talks, fighting has continued. Just days before the Florida meeting, Russia launched large missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, cutting power and heat in parts of Kyiv. Zelenskiy said these attacks were meant to pressure Ukraine during peace efforts. Trump, however, said he believes both Putin and Zelenskiy are serious about reaching peace.

Any final agreement would need approval from Ukraine’s parliament or possibly a public vote. Trump said he would even speak to Ukraine’s lawmakers if it helped secure the deal.

While the talks show hope, the road to peace remains uncertain. Major questions about territory, security, and trust between the sides must still be resolved before the war can truly come to an end.