U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States and Ukraine were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to a peace agreement aimed at ending the war with Russia, though he admitted that difficult issues — particularly the future of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region — remain unresolved.
Trump made the remarks during a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after talks at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The meeting focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and territorial questions tied to the ongoing conflict.
While both leaders acknowledged progress, neither provided a timeline for finalising a deal. Trump said it would become clear “in a few weeks” whether negotiations would succeed, noting that several “thorny issues” still needed to be resolved, especially those related to territory.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine and the United States had reached an agreement on post-war security guarantees, describing it as a critical step toward lasting peace. Trump struck a more cautious tone, saying talks were about “95 per cent” complete and that European nations were expected to shoulder much of the responsibility, with U.S. support.
French President Emmanuel Macron later confirmed progress on security guarantees, announcing that members of the “Coalition of the Willing” would meet in Paris in early January to finalise their contributions.
The status of the Donbas region remains the most sensitive issue. Russia has demanded full control of the territory, while Ukraine insists any settlement must reflect current battle lines
Zelenskiy has previously opposed proposals that would require Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from the region.
Trump said discussions on Donbas were “moving in the right direction” but remained unresolved. The U.S. has floated the idea of a free economic zone in the area as part of a compromise, though details of how such a zone would function remain unclear.
Security arrangements after the war also remain contentious, with Russia opposing any foreign troop presence in Ukraine. Zelenskiy said any peace deal would require approval by Ukraine’s parliament or a national referendum. Trump said he would be willing to address Ukrainian lawmakers if it would help secure the agreement.