Trump and Zelensky Conclude Mar‑a‑Lago Talks With No Breakthrough, 90% Agreement
Updated (2 articles)
Mar‑a‑Lago Meeting Launched After Putin Call Trump and Zelensky began their talks at the Florida estate on Sunday, moving reporters out of the room before the session and both leaders voiced a desire to end the Ukraine war [2]. Trump emphasized there is no fixed deadline for a deal, while noting a “good and very productive” telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin earlier that day [2]. The meeting marks a high‑profile effort to advance peace negotiations after months of back‑channel diplomacy [1][2].
Zelensky Pushes Revised 20‑Point Peace Plan Zelensky traveled to Palm Beach to press Trump for endorsement of a new 20‑point plan that replaces the earlier 28‑point framework [1][2]. He reported that roughly 90 % of the terms were already agreed, focusing the remaining discussion on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and possible land concessions [1]. Security guarantees for Ukraine and a realignment of territorial claims, especially in Donbas, were also on the agenda [2].
Trump’s Call With Putin Shapes Diplomatic Context Prior to the Mar‑a‑Lago session, Trump spoke with Putin for more than an hour, saying the Russian leader wants to see peace and that a follow‑up call is planned [1]. Putin did not attend the meeting in person, but his influence was highlighted as a backdrop to the negotiations [1]. Both sides framed the process as intricate and likely to require weeks before any concrete outcome emerges [1][2].
Negotiations Remain Complex With Donbas and Nuclear Issues Unresolved The parties left the meeting without a major breakthrough, agreeing that the remaining 10 % of issues—chiefly the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility and land‑swap proposals—still need resolution [1]. Russia continues to control most of Luhansk and about 70 % of Donetsk, making the Donbas status a contentious point [2]. Both leaders stressed that the talks are part of a longer, ongoing diplomatic effort rather than a one‑day solution [1][2].
Sources (2 articles)
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[1]
CNN: Trump‑Zelensky talks at Mar‑a‑Lago yield no breakthrough, keep peace plan negotiations alive – Details a three‑hour meeting with 90 % of terms agreed, focusing on the nuclear plant and land concessions, and notes Trump’s prior call with Putin and ongoing diplomatic backdrop.
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[2]
Newsweek: Trump‑Zelensky meeting underway after Putin call at Mar‑a‑Lago – Describes the start of talks, a productive Putin call, shifts in Trump’s peace‑plan stance, Zelensky’s security‑guarantee demands, and the unresolved Donbas territorial questions.
Timeline
Dec 28, 2025 – Trump and Zelensky convene at Mar‑a‑Lago, marking the first high‑profile face‑to‑face after months of back‑channel diplomacy. Reporters are cleared from the room as both leaders “express a desire to end the war in Ukraine,” and Trump stresses “there is no deadline for reaching a deal.” Trump tells reporters the meeting follows a “good and very productive telephone call with Vladimir Putin,” framing the talks as part of a broader effort to align U.S., Russian and Ukrainian positions. Zelensky signals he will press for “security guarantees” and a new 20‑point plan to replace the earlier 28‑point framework, underscoring the fluid nature of the negotiations and the high stakes for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, especially in Donbas where Russia controls most of Luhansk and about 70 % of Donetsk[2].
Dec 29, 2025 – After three hours of discussion, Zelensky seeks Trump’s endorsement of a revised 20‑point peace plan, but “no major breakthrough” emerges, leaving the process “complex and ongoing.” Zelensky reports that “90 % of terms are agreed,” with the remaining 10 % tied to the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and land‑concession issues; Trump suggests negotiations over land could proceed now. The talks occur against the backdrop of Putin’s continued diplomatic influence—he did not travel to Palm Beach but had earlier “spoken with Trump for more than an hour” and signaled that “Putin wants to see peace occur,” hinting at a possible alignment that could reshape the war’s trajectory[1].
These events trace the rapid escalation from a preparatory call with Russia to a direct U.S.–Ukrainian summit, highlighting how shifting U.S. peace‑plan proposals and lingering Russian leverage continue to dictate the prospects for ending the conflict.