US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy have signalled they are nearing a potential agreement to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, following a crucial meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
Substantial Progress on Security Guarantees
Speaking after a lunch meeting and press conference on Sunday, President Trump stated the two leaders were "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to a deal. He indicated that clarity on whether negotiations will succeed should come "in a few weeks".
President Zelenskyy confirmed that an agreement on security guarantees for Ukraine had been reached. Trump offered a more measured assessment, saying talks were 95% of the way to such an agreement and that he expected European nations, with US backing, to "take over a big part" of the security effort.
Thorny Issues and International Backing
Despite the reported progress, both leaders acknowledged that some of the most difficult questions remain unresolved. The future status of the Donbas region was specifically cited as an outstanding and "very tough issue."
The discussions garnered support from key international partners. EU Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, who joined a call with European leaders, Trump, and Zelenskyy, described the progress as "good" and stressed the critical need for "ironclad security guarantees from day one" for Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also participated. 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.
Reactions and Ongoing Violence
In a notable reaction from Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, stated on social media platform X that "the world appreciates Trump’s peace efforts."
As diplomatic talks advanced, the brutal reality of the war continued. Overnight, Russian guided aerial bombs struck private homes in the eastern city of Sloviansk, killing one man and injuring three others, according to local military administration head Vadym Lakh.
President Zelenskyy confirmed on Monday that US and Ukrainian teams would meet next week to finalise issues, stating they had made "significant progress" and highly valued the work done over recent weeks.
