U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands during a press conference after their lunch meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 28, 2025.
Credit: Reuters photo
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday to discuss a revised draft peace plan aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia. Here are the main takeaways from the meeting and the proposed deal.
Optimistic tone on ending war
After the meeting, Trump said Russia and Ukraine were “maybe very close” to a deal to end the conflict. Zelenskyy, too, described the talks as a “great meeting,” signalling momentum after months of stalled diplomacy.
A 20-point peace proposal is at the centre of talks
The discussions revolved around a 20-point peace plan drafted after negotiations between Ukraine and the United States.
Zelenskyy has said the proposal is “90% ready,” though key disagreements, especially over territory, remain unresolved.
EU membership seen as a core security pillar
Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union is built into the plan as a long-term guarantee. Zelenskyy wants a fixed date for accession, though it is unclear whether the EU is willing or able to commit to a timeline.
US–Ukraine bilateral security pact proposed
The draft plan includes a bilateral security agreement between Kyiv and Washington that would need approval from the US Congress. European military assistance across air, land and sea domains is also envisioned.
US seeks a formula short of “withdrawal”
Zelenskyy said Washington is trying to frame territorial concessions in a way that avoids the politically sensitive term “withdrawal,” possibly by designating zones as demilitarised or economically neutral.
US-proposed joint control of the nuclear plant
The United States has suggested shared control of the plant among Washington, Kyiv and Moscow, including profit-sharing—an idea Ukraine has so far rejected.
Kyiv suggests a US–Ukraine joint venture instead
As an alternative, Zelenskyy proposed that the plant operate as a joint venture between Ukraine and the US, leaving Washington free to pursue any separate arrangements with Moscow.