Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida Dec. 28
The two leaders will discuss Ukraine’s security guarantees, with a nearly finished 20-point plan shaping crucial December 28 talks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend, marking a potentially pivotal moment in international efforts to bring an end to the nearly four-year Russia–Ukraine war. Speaking to journalists on Friday, December 26, 2025, Zelenskyy said the talks are scheduled for Sunday, December 28, and will focus primarily on security guarantees for Ukraine and a proposed peace framework that is “about 90% ready.”
The meeting comes at a time when diplomatic activity around the conflict has intensified, with Washington playing a central role in trying to bridge the deep divide between Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy expressed cautious optimism ahead of the talks, saying he hopes to reach a broad understanding with Trump on the outlines of a peace framework that could eventually lead to a formal agreement. For Ukraine, security guarantees remain the core issue — assurances that any ceasefire or settlement would prevent Russia from launching another full-scale invasion in the future.
According to Zelenskyy, the discussions will revolve around a detailed 20-point plan that has been under negotiation through diplomatic channels for weeks. While he did not publicly disclose the full contents of the plan, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly stressed that it includes provisions related to territorial integrity, international monitoring, phased troop withdrawals, and long-term defense commitments from Western partners. Zelenskyy’s remark that the plan is nearly complete suggests that negotiators believe the remaining gaps, though difficult, may still be bridgeable.
The Florida meeting also reflects Trump’s renewed push to position himself as a dealmaker on one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. Since returning to the White House, Trump has made ending Russia’s war in Ukraine a signature foreign policy goal, arguing that prolonged fighting benefits no one and drains global stability. However, his efforts have so far run into sharply conflicting demands from Moscow and Kyiv, particularly on issues of territory, sanctions, and Ukraine’s future security alignment.
Zelenskyy’s comments followed what he described as a “good conversation” on Thursday, December 25, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, both of whom have been closely involved in behind-the-scenes diplomacy. Those talks, held just days before the Florida meeting, appear to have helped clear the ground for direct leader-level discussions.
On the Russian side, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that Moscow has already been in contact with U.S. representatives. He noted that Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev recently met with U.S. envoys in Florida, signaling that parallel channels of communication are active. While the Kremlin has not commented directly on the specifics of the proposed 20-point plan, Russian officials have consistently insisted that any settlement must reflect what they describe as “new realities on the ground,” a phrase Kyiv strongly rejects.
The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and reshaped global geopolitics. Despite multiple diplomatic initiatives over the years, none have succeeded in producing a durable ceasefire, let alone a comprehensive peace agreement. Both sides remain deeply suspicious of each other’s intentions, and domestic political pressures further complicate compromise.
In a notable statement earlier this week, Zelenskyy said he would be willing to consider withdrawing Ukrainian troops from parts of the eastern industrial heartland as part of a broader peace plan — but only if Russia also pulls back and the territory becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. The proposal underscores Kyiv’s willingness to explore painful concessions, while also highlighting the strict conditions Ukraine believes are necessary to ensure lasting peace.
As Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet, expectations are tempered by the long history of failed negotiations. Still, the fact that both leaders are engaging directly, with a detailed plan nearing completion, has raised cautious hope among diplomats and observers. Whether Sunday’s talks will produce a breakthrough or simply mark another step in a long, uncertain process remains to be seen, but for a war-weary region, even the possibility of progress carries real weight.