Zelenskyy and Trump meet to discuss peace in Ukraine: Details

Key questions:

• The Zelenskyy-Trump meeting is scheduled for December 28 at 1:00 PM ET (8:00 PM Kyiv time).
• The venue is Palm Beach, Florida, at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago residence.
• Ahead of the meeting, Trump held a phone call with Vladimir Putin.
• The Ukrainian negotiation team includes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, Minister of Economy Oleksii Sobolev, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andrii Hnatov, Presidential Office Advisor Oleksandr Bevz, and First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya.
• The agenda includes peace initiatives, security guarantees, and next steps toward resolving the war.
• Trump is set to speak with Zelenskyy, followed by a joint call with Zelenskyy and European leaders. The US president will then hold a phone call with Putin.
• The talks are taking place alongside parallel US contacts with Russian representatives.

11:10 PM Kyiv time. Talks between Trump and Zelenskyy have concluded after more than two hours

A video conference is now underway between the two presidents and European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

This was reported by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during the Zona Bianca program on Rete 4.

9:31 PM Kyiv time

Zelenskyy's office responded to Trump’s phone call with Putin.

Despite a Financial Times report claiming Kyiv was "concerned" about Trump's conversation with Putin, the Office of the President denied this.

Sources told RBC-Ukraine that the call did not worry Zelenskyy. They said the conversation was expected and is part of efforts to determine what Russia is actually prepared to agree to and whether it could undermine ongoing diplomatic work.

A source within the Ukrainian president’s team also said that six documents between Ukraine and the US are currently being worked on, and that the Ukrainian delegation expects to review them during the negotiations.

9:30 PM Kyiv time

RBC-Ukraine learned what Trump is serving the Ukrainian delegation at a lunch at Mar-a-Lago.

At the lunch at the US President's residence, the Ukrainian delegation is being served chicken broth, steaks with French fries, and a chocolate cake named after Trump.

9:19 PM Kyiv time. The composition of the American delegation at the talks has become known

Media outlets published photos from the dining hall at Mar-a-Lago, showing Zelenskyy and Trump seated across from each other, accompanied by their teams.

The American delegation includes:

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio;
• US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth;
• White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles;
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine;
• US Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner;
• Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

Reporters were briefly allowed into the meeting venue, where they took photos and videos before leaving the room.

9:00 PM Kyiv time

After a brief exchange with reporters, the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy moved behind closed doors.

Later, Trump and Zelenskyy are expected to hold phone calls with European leaders.

The US president then plans to speak with Vladimir Putin.

8:35 PM Kyiv time. Zelenskyy and Trump made statements to the media before the talks

Trump:

• I don't have deadlines. Do you know what my deadline is? Getting the war end.
• They (Russia and Ukraine - ed.) both want to see it (war - ed.) end.
• I'm also calling President Putin after the meeting, and we'll continue negotiations.
• There will be a security agreement, a strong security agreement. And European nations are very much involved.
• He's (Putin - ed.) very serious (about negotiations - ed.). I believe Ukraine has made some strong attacks also. I don't say that's negative. I think they probably have to. (According to Trump, loud explosions were recently heard in Russia, and "it possibly came from Ukraine.")
• We are in the final stages of talking. It will either end, or it will go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed. And nobody wants that.

Zelenskyy:

• Over the past few months, we have made progress in the negotiations. I thank President Trump for his efforts. Several important documents are under discussion.
• I hope we can reach peace as soon as possible.
• Europe is also making significant efforts and remains in constant contact.
• Our teams are working as planned on an agreement on recovery and further steps. This is important for strategic, step-by-step progress, including ending the war, securing peace, and all subsequent actions.
• The Ukrainian and American teams have already completed 90% of the 20-point peace plan. We will discuss the remaining points, including territorial issues.

8:28 PM Kyiv time

Trump greeted Zelenskyy at the entrance to the residence.

Before meeting Zelenskyy, the American president held a "good and very productive" conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. However, he did not provide further details.

Trump hosted Zelenskyy in the main dining hall of his Mar-a-Lago estate. Joint statements to the media were scheduled before the talks. At 9:00 PM Kyiv time, a joint phone call between the presidents and European leaders is planned.

Recently, Zelenskyy announced his meeting with Trump ahead of the New Year.

"We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year. Glory to Ukraine!" he said on December 26.

The date and location were later confirmed. The White House stated that President Zelenskyy will meet Trump on December 28 at the Palm Beach resort at 1:00 PM ET (8:00 PM Kyiv time), where Trump spends his weekends.

The scheduled meeting follows earlier talks in Florida. There, Trump's envoys — Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — held discussions with negotiators from Ukraine and Russia.

It is known that the American and Ukrainian delegations prepared initial drafts of several documents related to peace. However, some issues require discussion at the leaders' level.

Today marks another stage in a series of meetings ongoing for several months.

Topics Zelenskyy and Trump are expected to discuss

Zelenskyy said he will primarily discuss security guarantees with Trump. The talks will also cover territorial issues (where disagreements remain) and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the context of a peace agreement.

Discussions will include both an agreement to end the war and bilateral documents between Ukraine and the US. Overall, work is underway on tracks including Ukraine-US security guarantees and Ukraine-Europe security guarantees.

"In my view, I see now that an agreement between the United States and us is almost ready. The question of signing or not signing, in my opinion, is secondary and depends on the format of our meeting," Zelenskyy said.

He noted that Ukraine is currently working on five documents. These include an economic agreement in its preliminary stage. They also cover Ukraine's prosperity and reconstruction, and a 20-point plan.

"Honestly, the 20-point plan we have been working on is 90% ready," Zelenskyy said.

He explained that the basic 20-point plan involves four sides: Ukraine, the US, Russia, and Europe. Without the consent of each, it cannot be signed.

Regarding the size of Ukraine's armed forces, Zelenskyy said the parameters in the drafts meet Kyiv's requirements and are considered a key security guarantee. He added that the US side understands this position and takes it into account during negotiations.

At the same time, the president said the size of Ukraine’s military will likely not be discussed at today’s meeting in Florida.

Stage of negotiations and the peace plan

In recent months, the US has stepped up efforts to advance a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. After talks in Miami, Zelenskyy reported on the preparation of draft documents on guarantees, reconstruction, and the basic framework for ending the war.

Russian representatives also met with the American team in Miami. The Kremlin said these talks "should not be seen as a breakthrough."

On December 24, the Ukrainian president presented journalists with a 20-point peace plan developed jointly by Ukraine, the US, and European partners.

The 20-point framework covers key areas: confirming Ukraine's sovereignty, security guarantees with the US, NATO, and European involvement, parameters for the Ukrainian armed forces, nuclear-free status, Ukraine's EU accession, and reconstruction.

The points also address the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, territories, demilitarization of certain zones, freedom of navigation, prisoner exchanges, elections in Ukraine after signing the agreement, and an immediate ceasefire.

Enforcement of the agreement would be overseen by a Peace Council chaired by the US President.

Trump on the peace talks

Ahead of the meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump said he expects productive negotiations but emphasized: "He (Zelenskyy -ed.) doesn't have anything until I approve it."

He expressed skepticism about certain points in the Ukrainian plan.

At the same time, Trump expressed confidence that he can hold constructive talks with both Zelenskyy and Putin. He also announced a future phone call with the Russian dictator.

"I think it's going to go good with him (Zelenskyy -ed.). I think it's going to go good with Putin," Trump said.

Putin's statements ahead of the talks

On the eve of the Zelenskyy-Trump meeting, Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited a Russian army command post in military uniform. He was briefed on the progress of Russian forces on the front lines.

Commenting on the situation, Putin claimed that Russia has almost "lost interest" in full control of Donbas under a peace agreement.

The Kremlin continues to voice maximalist demands, including full occupation of all Donbas territories, including areas not yet seized by Russian forces.

Putin claimed that in talks with Trump in Alaska on August 15, he allegedly "accepted certain concessions" for himself.

European track

European leaders will not participate in the Florida meeting. However, on December 27, they discussed diplomatic priorities with Zelenskyy. NATO acknowledges that the outcome of talks with Trump is difficult to predict.

After meeting with the US president, the Ukrainian delegation plans to consult again with European partners. Zelenskyy intends to present the agreements reached, coordinate details, and synchronize security guarantees from the US and Europe.