Florida: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump are meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in a pivotal bid to forge a peace settlement to Russia’s nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, a diplomatic push that comes amid intensified fighting and heated disagreements over territory, security guarantees and the shape of a lasting peace.
The Florida negotiations unfold against the backdrop of a renewed Russian air offensive, with Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities hit by a barrage of missiles and drones just days before the talks began. The strikes which left parts of the capital without power and heating in winter conditions were denounced by Kyiv and its Western partners as a deliberate attempt by Moscow to undermine diplomatic momentum and signal its intransigence.
As Zelenskiy travels to the U.S., European leaders and allies, including Canada, have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s struggle and its right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Canada pledged additional economic aid, while European Union officials reiterated the West’s commitment to a comprehensive peace built on justice and security.
At the core of the discussions is a 20-point peace framework, refined over weeks of U.S.-brokered negotiations between Kyiv and Washington, designed to serve as the basis for ending the war. Zelenskiy has said the plan is about 90% complete, but several of the most sensitive issues remain unresolved.
The dispute over territorial control in eastern and southern Ukraine especially in the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions is the most difficult sticking point. Moscow has insisted that Ukraine cede full control over the Donbas, including areas Kyiv still holds. Ukraine, for its part, is seeking to freeze control at current front lines, rejecting what it views as a reward for aggression.
To bridge this divide, U.S. mediators have floated ideas such as creating a “free economic zone” in contested territories if Ukraine withdraws a proposal that Kyiv and its European partners view with scepticism and concern over its practicality and implications for long-term sovereignty.
Another central element of the talks is the question of security guarantees for Ukraine. Kyiv has pushed for legally binding and robust commitments from the United States and other Western partners to prevent future aggression something Kyiv says is essential before it agrees to halt hostilities or hold elections. Zelenskiy has signaled that Ukraine is prepared to discuss a referendum on the peace plan, but only after a 60-day ceasefire, allowing for public deliberation on sensitive territorial provisions.
Trump has indicated that nothing in the draft plan is final without his approval, underscoring the central role Washington’s backing plays in any potential peace deal. Despite this, he has expressed optimism that the meeting could yield productive outcomes.
Moscow, meanwhile, has shown little willingness to concede on its maximalist demands, with Russian President Vladimir Putin asserting that Russia will achieve its objectives by force if Ukraine refuses to compromise. Russian officials argue that Kyiv’s diplomatic overtures reflect a strategic retreat, but Ukraine and its allies dismiss this framing as unfounded and continue to press for a negotiated end to hostilities.
The Florida talks thus represent both a diplomatic opportunity and a test of wills a moment on the global stage where Western influence, Ukrainian resilience, and Russian strategic calculations converge in a high-stakes effort to halt one of the deadliest conflicts in Europe since World War II.