Former President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for a high-stakes meeting aimed at negotiating an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Our upcoming diplomatic engagement on [insert date] will be a key opportunity to press for progress. Its purpose is to end the stalemate that’s persisted since 2022.
While Zelenskyy came to Miami in advance of the special meeting. There, he and Trump talked about the details of a four-part peace plan. Per Trump’s own account, those negotiations are now in their “final stages,” meaning a deal could be just days away. He sounded a positive note on the progress to date, especially that Putin seems ready to discuss a peace agreement.
At their meeting, Trump had announced that Zelenskyy’s peace proposal was 90% finished. The three key territorial issues remain unresolved. This proposal is pivotal as it outlines Ukraine’s conditions for peace and aims to address the conflict’s root causes.
Ahead of their meeting, Trump had a stellar warm-up call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He called their talk “great and incredibly fruitful.” He insisted that despite the impasse, both leaders do want to get there.
“I do, I do. I think he is, I think they both are,” – Donald Trump
In further comment, Trump emphasized the need to lock down an agreement that includes European countries. In the statement, he highlighted that these negotiations need to feature a robust security agreement. He underscored the need to finish a deal sooner rather than later.
“I believe Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also. I don’t say that negatively. You probably have to,” – Donald Trump
Zelenskyy and Trump were supposed to get on the phone with European leaders during their talks. This multilateral approach further highlights the importance of international engagement and cooperation in assisting efforts towards achieving a durable peace.
Prior to the meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy spoke with UK Opposition Leader Keir Starmer, who reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Ukraine amid ongoing hostilities. Starmer’s conversation with Zelenskyy reflects a continued alliance among Western nations in backing Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
For all the upbeat media-speak coming out of the talks, Trump’s first reaction to big new Russian military provocations was concerning. It’s the reason why he decided not to publicly condemn Russia’s latest strikes on Kyiv. He failed on several counts, not least of which was the attack’s primary focus on civilians. Worryingly for many, Trump’s unwillingness to engage with these issues head-on might indicate his greater intent when it comes to engaging with Moscow.
From Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov on the talks. He further stressed that the two leaders agreed that the EU and Ukraine’s preferred resolution of a temporary ceasefire would increase the chances of the conflict continuing, rather than ending. This of course mirrors a deep seated skepticism about ceasefires that has prevailed – and deservedly so – in most other similar conflicts, where no durable peace has emerged thereafter.
“It’ll either end or it’s going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be dead. And nobody wants that,” – Donald Trump
In the meeting, conducted in Mar-a-Lago’s main dining room, both leaders seemed intent on establishing principles as the basis for further talks. Trump showed optimism that a good deal for Ukraine could be achieved, but struck the note that time is of the essence.
“I think we can move very rapidly,” – Donald Trump
The exchange between Zelenskyy and Trump reveals an important moment in international diplomatic history involving the future of Ukraine. For one, both leaders are directly engaged in combatting challenging geopolitical environments. What they discuss may determine the immediate future of Ukraine and set the tone for U.S.-Russia relations going forward.