August M
The leaders of the United States and Ukraine held talks in Florida amid renewed diplomatic pressure to outline a path toward ending Russia’s war, now approaching its fourth year. Both Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky struck an optimistic tone after the meeting, while acknowledging that key disagreements remain unresolved.
The discussions come as Washington faces growing calls to demonstrate progress on diplomacy, even as fighting continues and past negotiation efforts have stalled over land and security arrangements.
Competing claims over territory
Questions over land seized during the war continue to complicate negotiations. Russia controls roughly one-fifth of Ukraine, including much of the eastern Donbas region, and neither side has publicly outlined concessions it is prepared to make.
According to the BBC, Trump said that parts of the territory had already been taken and that control over other areas could still shift, calling the issue difficult to resolve.
“Some of that land has been taken,” Trump told reporters. “Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months.”
He added that proposals related to Donbas, including the idea of creating a demilitarised zone, had not yet been settled. Moscow has pushed for Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining areas it controls there, while Kyiv has suggested turning the region into a free economic zone under Ukrainian policing.
Florida talks and security guarantees
Speaking after the meeting at Mar-a-Lago, both leaders described the talks as constructive. Zelensky said around 90% of a 20-point peace framework had been agreed, though he did not provide details on the remaining issues.
Trump said discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine were close to completion, placing them at “about 95%,” but offered no specifics on how such guarantees would be enforced or whether they would involve troops or long-term logistical support.
In a later statement posted on Telegram, Zelensky said the talks had covered all major issues and that Ukrainian and US teams would meet again next week to continue discussions.
Broader diplomatic contacts
Trump also confirmed that he had recently spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin opposed a ceasefire that could lead to a referendum in occupied areas, a position Trump said he understood.
Russia’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said the call was initiated by Trump and included Moscow’s view that a temporary ceasefire backed by the European Union and Ukraine would prolong the conflict, the BBC reported.
European leaders responded cautiously to developments in the talks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said progress had been made but stressed that any agreement would require firm security guarantees for Ukraine from the outset.
French President Emmanuel Macron said allied countries would meet in Paris early next month to finalise contributions related to security arrangements, writing on X that the aim would be to define concrete commitments.
Uncertain path ahead
Despite renewed diplomatic activity, major questions over land, enforcement mechanisms and long-term security arrangements remain unresolved, underscoring the challenges facing any negotiated settlement.
Sources: BBC
