US President Donald Trump said efforts to end the war in Ukraine were now entering a decisive phase as he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, signalling what he described as the final stretch of negotiations. The meeting came shortly after Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding momentum to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict. Speaking to reporters before the closed-door discussions, Trump said progress toward a settlement had been made and expressed confidence that a deal could be achieved soon. He remarked that the framework for peace was beginning to take shape and that both sides appeared willing to move forward.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump for hosting the meeting and said he hoped the talks would help bring the war to an end as quickly as possible. He noted that Ukrainian and American teams had already worked extensively on a detailed roadmap and that the discussions would focus on pushing those plans closer to implementation. Trump echoed this optimism, saying the situation could move rapidly and stressing that both Ukraine and Russia wanted the fighting to stop. He added that he believed the moment was right for progress after months of stalled diplomacy.
The meeting followed Trump’s telephone call with Putin earlier in the day, which he described as constructive. Trump told reporters that Putin appeared serious about seeking peace, despite continued Russian military activity. He rejected suggestions that Moscow’s recent missile and drone strikes on Ukraine undermined the sincerity of its intentions, saying that conflict dynamics often involve pressure from both sides before a settlement is reached. Trump also indicated that after his talks with Zelenskyy, the two leaders would likely speak with European counterparts to align positions and coordinate next steps.
Zelenskyy said that the discussions would cover not only security concerns but also economic and political arrangements necessary for long-term stability. While he declined to give details about possible territorial compromises, he acknowledged that the future of eastern Ukraine, particularly the Donbas region, would be a central and sensitive issue. He added that Ukraine’s priority remained safeguarding its sovereignty while working toward a durable peace agreement.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of continued fighting, with Russia launching fresh missile and drone attacks on Kyiv just hours before Zelenskyy arrived in Florida. Those strikes killed at least one person and injured several others, underscoring the urgency of the diplomatic push. Despite this, Trump maintained that negotiations were moving in the right direction and reiterated his belief that Putin was genuinely interested in ending the war.
According to officials, Trump and Zelenskyy were expected to hold extended closed-door talks after their public remarks, focusing on bridging remaining gaps. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has indicated that both Moscow and Washington are sceptical of a temporary ceasefire proposal backed by some European leaders, arguing that such a pause could prolong the conflict rather than resolve it. As discussions continue, the coming days are expected to be crucial in determining whether the long-running war can finally move toward a negotiated settlement.
