Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Florida for a critical diplomatic summit with US President Donald Trump, focused on forging a plan to end the war with Russia that has raged for nearly four years.
Diplomatic Push Amidst Renewed Attacks
The high-stakes meeting at Trump's Florida estate comes after a tense weekend of diplomacy and violence. On Sunday 28 December 2025, just a day before the talks, Russia launched missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. President Zelensky stated this aggression "really shows that Putin doesn't want peace".
In preparation for the Florida negotiations, Zelensky conducted a flurry of calls with allied leaders. He spoke in detail with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, thanking him for "constant co-ordination". The Ukrainian leader also met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a stopover and consulted European allies on Saturday.
Meanwhile, President Trump revealed he had held a "good and very productive" telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday morning, setting the stage for the pivotal discussions with Ukraine.
The 20-Point Peace Plan and Sticking Points
The core of the Florida talks is a draft peace proposal that negotiators have been developing. Zelensky has indicated this 20-point plan is "about 90% ready". He noted on social media platform X that "these are some of the most active diplomatic days of the year right now, and a lot can be decided before the New Year."
The proposed deal is understood to include a major US commitment: security guarantees for Ukraine that mirror NATO's Article 5 principle. This would mean an attack on Ukraine would trigger a collective military response from the United States and its allies.
However, significant hurdles remain. The most sensitive issue is territory. While Zelensky indicated on Christmas Eve an openness to creating a demilitarised zone on Ukraine's eastern border with Russia, he continues to resist ceding the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. The talks are expected to zero in on the status of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions specifically.
European Demands and the Path Ahead
European leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, insist that any viable deal must include a role for NATO forces in monitoring a ceasefire. They have also outlined other key conditions for a lasting peace:
- Allowing Ukraine to maintain a substantial peacetime military of up to 800,000 troops.
- Paving the way for Ukraine's eventual membership of the European Union.
The Florida summit represents the latest phase in President Trump's year-long effort to broker a ceasefire, having previously vowed to end the war on his first day in office. While the US has reportedly offered unspecified security guarantees, the exact details are still being negotiated.
President Zelensky expressed hope that European leaders could be brought into the discussions, either later on Sunday or at a follow-up meeting, underscoring the complex, multilateral nature of the peace process. With key details on security and territory still unresolved, the outcome of the Florida talks could define the future of Ukraine and European security for decades to come.
