Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet Donald Trump on Sunday as diplomatic efforts intensify to bring the war in Ukraine closer to an end. According to multiple reports, the discussion will center on a newly drafted US-brokered 20-point peace plan, along with proposals for American security guarantees that Ukraine says are essential for any lasting agreement.
Zelensky has made it clear that expectations should remain realistic. While progress is being made, he cautioned that the meeting may not immediately result in a binding deal. Still, he emphasized that both sides are aiming to finalize as much as possible before the New Year. Writing recently on X, Zelensky said that “a lot can be decided before the New Year,” adding that the current peace framework is already about 90% complete.
The planned meeting, reportedly scheduled to take place in Florida, has not yet been officially confirmed by the White House. At the same time, Russia’s involvement remains indirect. Zelensky stated that Kyiv is negotiating only with Washington, while the US continues separate communications with Moscow. A senior Kremlin aide has reportedly spoken with US officials by phone, and Russian sources claim the Kremlin remains open to continued talks.
This 20-point proposal is a revised version of a controversial 28-point plan floated in November after US-Russia discussions. That earlier draft drew criticism from Ukraine’s allies for appearing to favor Moscow. After weeks of negotiations between Ukrainian and American officials, the plan was significantly narrowed, reportedly addressing some of those concerns.
Zelensky has said that any final agreement would still require approval from Russia and Ukraine’s European partners, underscoring that peace cannot be imposed unilaterally. He also noted that Ukraine has yet to receive an official response from the Kremlin on the updated proposal. Russian officials, for their part, have described current talks as showing “slow but steady progress,” while disputing claims that the new plan matches what Moscow has been discussing with Washington.
One notable element is Zelensky’s suggestion of a potential demilitarized free economic zone in parts of eastern Donbas that Russia has failed to seize militarily. He has also floated the possibility of withdrawing Ukrainian forces from certain areas if Russia agrees to do the same—an idea Moscow has not publicly endorsed.
At the core of Ukraine’s position remains a firm demand for credible US security guarantees, reflecting Kyiv’s concern that any peace deal without enforcement mechanisms could collapse under future Russian pressure. Whether the upcoming talks can bridge these gaps remains uncertain, but they signal renewed urgency to move negotiations forward before the year ends.
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