Ukraine and Russia Reportedly Near Peace Deal, Trump Claims
Table of Contents
Negotiations are in their final stages, with 95% of issues reportedly settled, according to former President Trump following a meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky.
- Former President Trump stated Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever” to reaching a peace agreement.
- The potential deal hinges on resolving territorial disputes in the donbas region.
- Ukraine is considering a referendum on the peace plan, contingent on a 60-day ceasefire.
- Further negotiations are planned for January in Washington, D.C.
Mar-a-Lago, Florida – A potential breakthrough in the nearly two-year-old conflict in Ukraine emerged Sunday, as former President Trump announced that Ukraine and Russia are “closer than ever” to a peace deal. He asserted that approximately 95% of the issues have been resolved following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.The announcement follows a flurry of diplomatic activity, signaling a renewed push for an end to the war.
Trump’s Diplomatic Push
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky represents the culmination of Trump’s recent diplomatic efforts to broker a peace agreement. Prior to meeting with Zelensky,Trump engaged in a one-hour and 15-minute phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin,discussing the proposed U.S. peace plan, according to Putin’s foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov. Ushakov characterized the call as “friendly,” noting that Trump listened to putin’s assessment of the peace talks.
Zelensky,speaking Friday,had expressed hope for reaching a framework agreement with Trump during their Sunday meeting. He revealed a willingness to put the plan to a national referendum, but only if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days to ensure a fair and secure voting process. without such a ceasefire, Zelensky stated, the referendum’s legitimacy would be compromised.
Donbas Remains a Sticking Point
While Zelensky emphasized significant progress, Trump acknowledged that territorial concessions in the Donbas region, bordering Russia, remain the most challenging aspect of the negotiations.Trump indicated that Putin and he both believe Ukraine “needs to make a decision about Donbas without delay.” Though,zelensky is seeking to improve the terms regarding territorial concessions and has stated he will need the approval of the Ukrainian people if a “strong” position on territory cannot be reached.
Ushakov claimed that both Putin and Trump believe a temporary ceasefire proposed by Ukraine for the referendum would only prolong the conflict. Trump, however, expressed optimism about finding solutions, stating, “I understand that position.But I think we are finding ways to get around that.” He also offered to address the Ukrainian Parliament to garner support for the deal.
Security Guarantees and Next Steps
During a briefing following the three-hour meeting, which also included a conference call with European leaders, Trump stated that any future peace deal would include strong security guarantees, though he did not elaborate on specifics. Zelensky initially claimed the 20-point framework agreement was 95% agreed upon and the security guarantees were 100% settled, a claim Trump later adjusted to 95% for the security guarantees as well.
Trump and Zelensky announced that further negotiations will take place in January in Washington, D.C., involving the U.S., Ukraine, and European countries to finalize the details. Trump cautioned that closing the remaining gaps could take a few weeks, adding, “It is possible it doesn’t happen. in a few weeks we will know.”
