FLORIDA, Sunday, December 28, 2025 (WNP): President Donald Trump on Sunday hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, signaling a renewed U.S. effort to broker an end to the nearly four-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy outside the estate, where both leaders briefly addressed the media before heading into closed-door talks. Striking an optimistic note, Trump said the negotiations appeared to be nearing a breakthrough.
“I do believe that we have the makings of a deal,” Trump told reporters, adding that progress could “move very rapidly.” He described the discussions as being in their “final stages,” while warning of dire consequences should diplomacy fail. “Otherwise, it’s going to go on for a long time,” he said. “Millions of additional people are going to be killed.”
The U.S. delegation at the meeting included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, among other senior officials. Trump and Zelenskyy are expected to address the press jointly following their talks.
Efforts to negotiate a peace settlement have repeatedly stalled, largely over disagreements regarding Ukraine’s territorial boundaries in any final agreement. Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy reiterated Kyiv’s readiness to pursue peace, while stressing the need for sustained international backing.
“Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war,” Zelenskyy wrote on X over the weekend. “For us, the only priority is ending the war. To be strong at the negotiating table, we need the support of the world—Europe and the United States.”
He added that Russia continues to signal its intent to prolong the conflict. “If the whole world—Europe and America—is on our side, together we will stop Putin. Because together we all want the same thing: an end to the war, peace—a normal, sustainable peace, safe for the whole world.”
The meeting followed a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Sunday. Trump described the conversation as “good and very productive,” though he did not disclose details. “I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting…with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,” Trump wrote, noting that the press would be allowed to cover parts of the engagement.
Zelenskyy’s comments came amid an escalation in Russian military activity, with Kyiv targeted overnight by hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles on Saturday. The Ukrainian president said the attacks underscored Moscow’s lack of seriousness toward diplomacy, even as negotiations continue.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, the outcome of the Mar-a-Lago talks is being closely watched by allies in Europe and beyond, amid growing urgency to halt a conflict that has exacted a heavy human and economic toll.
