Mar-a-lago: US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war are in their "final stages" during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Trump expressed optimism about the progress of the talks, stating, "I think we're in final stages of talking. It'll either end or it's going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed."
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump mentioned his success in settling eight wars previously, acknowledging the complexity of the current conflict but expressing determination to resolve it. He emphasized that although he has not set a specific deadline for an agreement between Ukraine and Russia, his primary goal remains to end the war.
Both leaders appeared committed to reaching a resolution, with Trump revealing plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin following his meeting with Zelenskyy to further the negotiations. Trump described an earlier call with Putin as "good and very productive," highlighting the importance of ongoing dialogue.
Trump also addressed the role of European nations, noting their strong support for a security agreement that would involve significant protection arrangements. "The European nations have been really great. They're very much in line with this meeting and getting a deal done," he said.
Zelenskyy acknowledged the progress made in recent delegate-level talks between Kyiv and Washington, indicating that he intends to discuss a 20-point peace plan with Trump. The two leaders later participated in a closed-door lunch to further deliberate on the issues at hand.
The US delegation at the meeting included several key figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, among others. Ukrainian representation included Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
Zelenskyy's visit to the US followed a trip to neighboring Canada, where discussions also centered on efforts to bring an end to the nearly four-year conflict.