Trump: We are "closer than ever" to a Russia-Ukraine peace deal
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 28. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
President Trump said after his Sunday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine and Russia are "closer than ever" to a peace deal and that 95% of the issues have been settled.
Why it matters: The meeting comes at the height of Trump's diplomatic push to reach a peace agreement aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
- Two hours before the meeting with Zelensky, Trump spoke on the phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and discussed the U.S. peace plan.
Driving the news: Zelensky told Axios on Friday that he hoped to agree on a framework with Trump for ending the war during Sunday's meeting.
- Zelensky revealed he's willing to bring that plan up for a referendum if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days.
- While Zelensky emphasized that significant progress has been made, Trump's plan still demands painful territorial concessions from Ukraine in the Donbas region, which borders Russia.
- Zelensky still hopes to improve those terms and said he'll need to seek approval of the Ukrainian people if they can't get to a "strong" position on territory.
- Zelensky said a 60-day ceasefire is a minimum for both preparing and holding the referendum and to allow security so Ukrainians may campaign and vote without the threat of attacks. Without it, he said, the result of the vote would be illegitimate.
Behind the scenes: Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters the call was Trump's initiative and lasted an hour and 15 minutes.
- Ushakov said the call was "in a friendly tone" and noted that Trump listened to Putin's assessment regarding the peace talks.
- Ushakov claimed Putin and Trump both think Ukraine "needs to make a decision about Donbas without delay."
- He also claimed that Putin and Trump both think that the temporary ceasefire Ukraine proposes for holding a referendum over the peace plan "will only prolong the conflict."
- Trump said the peace deal would have to be approved by Ukraine's Parliament or by referendum. He said he is willing to speak in front of Ukrainian Parliament to help sell the deal.
- Trump said Putin doesn't want to have a ceasefire but to reach a deal that ends the war. "I understand that position. But I think we are finding ways to get around that," he said.
What they're saying: Trump greeted Zelensky Sunday afternoon on the steps of Mar-a-Lago, and told reporters that both the Ukrainian and Putin want a peace deal and stressed the negotiations are in their final stages.
- He stressed that any future peace deal will include strong security guarantees, but offered no specifics on what those might be.
- "I do think we are getting a lot closer. We are very close", Trump said during a briefing with Zelensky after a three hour meeting that also included a conference call with a group of European leaders.
- Zelensky said at the briefing that the 20-point framework agreement is 95% agreed and the security guarantees agreement is 100% agreed. Trump then interjected and said the security guarantees agreement is 95% agreed.
- Trump said Russian territorial demands in Donbas are still the thorniest issue. "It is unresolved but it is getting a lot closer", he said.
What's next: Zelensky and Trump said more negotiations will take place in January in Washington, D.C., between the U.S., Ukraine and European countries to finalize the details.
- Trump said it might take a few weeks to close the remaining gaps. "It is possible is doesn't happen. In a few weeks we will know," he added.
Go deeper: Zelensky "ready" to call referendum on Trump plan with ceasefire
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
