Significant strides were made towards ending the war in Ukraine during high-stakes talks between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Both leaders indicated they are moving closer to a potential agreement, though acknowledged that critical, thorny issues are yet to be fully resolved.
Progress Reported, But Key Sticking Points Remain
Following a lunch meeting and press conference on Sunday, President Trump stated that the two nations were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to a deal to conclude the conflict, now in its 1,405th day. He suggested that the success of ongoing negotiations would become clear "in a few weeks".
President Zelenskyy confirmed that an agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached, a point he reiterated in a statement on Telegram on Monday. However, Trump offered a more measured assessment, noting they were about 95% of the way to such an agreement. He emphasised his expectation that European allies would "take over a big part" of the security guarantee effort, with backing from the United States.
The future status of the Donbas region was highlighted by both as a major unresolved issue. "It's unresolved, but it's getting a lot closer. That's a very tough issue," President Trump admitted during the press conference.
International Backing and Coordinated Support
The discussions garnered attention and cautious optimism from key international partners. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who joined a call with European leaders, Trump, and Zelenskyy, described the progress as "good". She stressed that Europe stood ready to build on the steps taken and that "ironclad security guarantees from day one" for Ukraine were paramount.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also participated in the call. A Downing Street spokesperson said leaders commended President Trump for the progress achieved so far and underlined the importance of robust security guarantees. The Prime Minister emphasised the UK's commitment to working with partners to sustain momentum, with Trump reportedly highlighting Starmer's leadership in driving coordinated international support.
Reactions and Ongoing Violence
The diplomatic movement prompted a response from Moscow. Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated on social media platform X that "the world appreciates Trump's peace efforts."
Despite the high-level talks, the brutal reality of the war continued on the ground. In overnight developments, Russian forces launched three guided aerial bombs on the eastern city of Sloviansk. The head of the local military administration, Vadym Lakh, reported via Telegram that the strikes hit private homes, killing one man and injuring three other people.
As US and Ukrainian teams prepare to meet next week to finalise details, the world watches to see if the momentum from Florida can be translated into a durable and just peace.
