Zelensky Meets Trump at Mar-a-Lago Amidst Renewed Russian Assault on Ukraine
As UkraineS capital endures a barrage of attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with former President Donald Trump on Sunday at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, in a last-ditch effort to bridge remaining gaps in a potential peace framework. The meeting, announced just 48 hours prior, comes as Russia continues its military offensive, launching a massive wave of 519 drones and 40 missiles into Ukraine overnight into Saturday, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic efforts.
The 1 p.m.ET discussion aims to refine a peace plan that began with a 28-point proposal from trump last month, subsequently revised to 20 points by Ukraine. American diplomats have been working diligently to forge an agreement acceptable to both Kyiv and Moscow, with progress reportedly reaching 90% of the way toward resolution, according to multiple sources.
Trump, who has been residing in Palm Beach since December 20, will pause his holiday to host Zelensky. The meeting was facilitated by conversations Zelensky held late last week with Trump’s foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the former president’s son-in-law, who is actively involved in finalizing the peace agreement.
Earlier this month, Trump indicated he saw little value in meetings with Zelensky or European allies unless a deal was within reach, suggesting the current negotiations are at a critical juncture. “It isn’t easy. No one is saying that it will be 100% right away, but nevertheless, we must bring the desired result closer with every such meeting, every such conversation,” Zelensky affirmed on friday.
However, important hurdles remain, particularly concerning land concessions necessary to end the nearly four-year conflict. Russia continues to demand the surrender of the entire eastern Donbas region, a position it has not softened.Zelensky, while previously resistant to territorial concessions, has indicated a willingness to consider a referendum on a peace plan if Russia agrees to a ceasefire, as required by Ukraine’s constitution for border changes.
The United States has proposed innovative solutions to break the deadlock, including the establishment of an “economic free zone” in eastern ukraine, according to a US official. The fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation and Europe’s largest, also remains a key point of contention. Kyiv has proposed a joint US-Ukraine operation of the plant, with a 50/50 split of electricity output.
Notably, Russia will not be represented at Sunday’s meeting, and its willingness to accept an immediate ceasefire remains uncertain. Trump has frequently characterized both Ukraine and Russia as impediments to peace. Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on saturday, reiterated Russia’s commitment to achieving its objectives in Ukraine “by military means” if a peaceful resolution cannot be reached.
Despite the ongoing violence, American officials express cautious optimism about the potential for a productive meeting, following a week of intensive negotiations. Zelensky stated his primary goal is to establish a framework for ending the conflict, including securing robust security guarantees from the United States to deter future Russian aggression.
Discussions in Berlin earlier this month yielded a potential security framework modeled after NATO’s Article 5, offering deterrence, deconfliction mechanisms, and monitoring of any eventual peace deal, along with consequences for Russian violations. “This is the most robust set of security protocols they have ever seen. It is a vrey, very strong package,” a senior US official commented, though specific details of the US commitment remain undisclosed. Trump has expressed confidence in persuading Moscow to accept these guarantees, and officials suggest Russia has shown openness to Ukraine’s potential accession to the European Union.
This meeting differs from previous engagements between the two presidents, as no European leaders are expected to attend, unlike the gatherings in August and February that followed a sometimes contentious Oval Office session. Trump, in a recent interview with Politico, anticipates a “good” meeting but cautioned that Zelensky’s position is contingent on his approval.
Ukrainian officials have been seeking this meeting with Trump as October, and European sources anticipate a positive outcome, citing a productive current dynamic between the US and Ukraine. However, they acknowledge the inherent unpredictability of any engagement with the former president. “There is no low-risk scenario with Trump,” one NATO official cautioned.
