'About 90% ready': Trump-Zelenskyy Florida meet on Ukraine peace deal - what's on agenda
US President Trump is set to meet Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a peace proposal amid escalating Russian attacks. Zelenskyy seeks strong support and pressure on Moscow, emphasising security guarantees and territorial issues. While both leaders aim for peace, significant hurdles remain regarding Russia's aggression and territorial gains.
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP photo)
US President Donald Trump is set to host a crucial meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, an engagement can be seen as another effort to ease the ongoing war and push forward a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, now nearing four years since Moscow's invasion.
The talks will include Zelenskyy's "20-point peace deal proposal", which is "about 90% ready" as Ukrainian leader said.
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The meeting is scheduled for 1pm, the White House said late Friday. It comes against the backdrop of renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine, including heavy damage in Kyiv from large-scale missile and drone strikes.Ukrainian president's spokesperson confirmed that Trump and Zelenskyy will call European leaders after meeting in Florida.On Saturday, Zelenskyy said on X that Russia used "almost 500 drones and 40 missiles" in its latest assault. He also wrote on Telegram, "Russia continues to mock our cities and people. Moscow has rejected even the proposals for a Christmas ceasefire and is increasing the ferocity of its missile and drone strikes. This is a clear signal of how they really feel about diplomacy… Therefore, Ukraine needs sufficient support.
And sufficient pressure needs to be put on Russia."Trump and Zelenskyy will meet at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, where the US president is spending the holidays. Trump has been trying to position himself as a mediator since beginning his second-stint in presidency, although previous talks, including one with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, ended without progress.Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is doing everything it can to end the war but stressed that final decisions depend on support from partners.
"These are some of the most active diplomatic days of the year, and much can be resolved before the New Year, and we are doing everything for this, but whether there will be decisions depends on the partners," he wrote on Telegram. He added that Ukraine’s allies must continue pressure on Moscow “so that the Russians feel the consequences of their own aggression.
”Russia has increased strikes on Kyiv in the days leading up to the Florida talks.
In another post on X, Zelenskyy said, “Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. We need to be strong at the negotiating table.” Responding to Russia’s attacks, he also wrote, “We want peace, and Russia demonstrates a desire to continue the war. If the whole world — Europe and America — is on our side, together we will stop” Putin.During a meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney in Halifax, Zelenskyy said that "pressure on Russia and sufficient, strong support for Ukraine" remain key to peace.