Trump, Zelensky Report Progress in Florida Peace Talks but Ukraine Territory Dispute Persists

By Blessing Nweke

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said they made significant progress toward ending the war in Ukraine during talks in Florida, though both acknowledged that disputes over territory remain unresolved.

Speaking to reporters after their meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, the two leaders described the discussions as “great” and substantive. Zelensky said negotiators had reached agreement on about 90% of a proposed 20-point peace plan, while Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine were “close to 95% done.” However, Trump conceded that “one or two very thorny issues” remain, most notably the question of land.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory. Much of the disagreement centers on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow controls about 75% of Donetsk and nearly all of neighbouring Luhansk. Trump said a proposal to turn Donbas into a demilitarised zone was still “unresolved,” noting that “some of that land has been taken” and that the situation could shift further in the coming months.

Ukraine has resisted Russian demands to withdraw from the remaining areas it controls in Donbas, instead proposing a free economic zone policed by Ukrainian forces. Trump, who has shifted his own stance on Ukraine’s lost territories in the past, described the issue as “very tough” but said it would ultimately be resolved.

Zelensky said US and Ukrainian teams would meet again next week to continue talks, adding on Telegram that Kyiv “highly values the progress” made so far. Trump also floated the idea of future trilateral talks involving the US, Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier, Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While details were limited, Trump said he believed Putin “wants Ukraine to succeed,” though he acknowledged Russia’s opposition to a ceasefire that could allow a referendum.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen later welcomed “good progress” in the Florida talks, while stressing the need for “ironclad security guarantees” for Ukraine from the outset.