Zelensky issues major 9-word statement ahead of Trump peace showdown | World | News

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is planning to meet US President Donald Trump on Sunday amid talks to end the war in Ukraine. Zelensky said the two leaders will focus on the US-brokered 20-point peace plan and additional proposals for US security guarantees. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s senior aide reportedly spoke to US officials over the phone, and the Kremlin is allegedly committed to continuing negotiations. According to Axios, the leaders’ meeting is set to take place in Florida.

Zelensky warned that he could not guarantee the meeting would lead to a firm agreement, but added the two sides would aim to “finalise as much as we can”. Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian leader optimistically wrote on X that “a lot can be decided before the New Year”. According to the president, the new 20-point peace plan drafted by Ukrainian and US officials is “90% ready”. The White House has not confirmed the upcoming meeting.

Initially, the 28-point peace plan from November, hammered out following talks between the United States and Russia, was criticised by Ukraine‘s allies as heavily favouring Moscow. Following weeks of talks between Ukrainian and US officials, that draft has been slimmed down to the current 20-point plan, CNN reported.

“In my opinion, I see now that the agreement between us and the United States is almost ready,” Zelensky said, adding that any peace deal will require the approval of Russia and Ukraine’s European allies. However, Zelensky said that Ukraine had not received an official response from the Kremlin to the latest proposal. He said Kyiv is negotiating exclusively with Washington, which in turn is communicating with Moscow.

However, a senior Russian official said that the plan was “radically different” to the one it was negotiating with Washington. Russia has mentioned “slow but steady progress” in talks but has not commented on Zelensky’s offer to withdraw troops from the eastern Donbas, if Russia pulls back too.

Ukraine has demanded guarantees from the US as part of a deal, and Zelensky has suggested that a demilitarised “free economic zone” is a potential option for areas of Donbas that Russia has failed to take by force.