Washington: US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, as Kyiv advances a new 20-point peace framework intended to end the nearly four-year conflict with Russia.
The White House confirmed on Friday that the leaders would meet on December 28. Ahead of the high-stakes discussion, President Trump positioned himself as the decisive authority on any potential agreement. speaking to POLITICO, Trump struck a cautious tone regarding Zelensky’s latest proposal, stating, "He doesn't have anything until I approve it. So we'll see what he's got."
Zelensky, who made a stopover in Canada on Saturday before travelling to Florida, has expressed hopes of finalizing key aspects of the deal before the New Year. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the Ukrainian leader said the goal was to "finalise as much as we can," though he refrained from predicting a concrete agreement.
The revised peace framework, which Zelensky describes as "90 per cent ready," reportedly includes proposals for a demilitarised zone and discussions on US security guarantees. It also addresses sensitive issues such as the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the status of the eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian officials have characterised the plan as an effort to demonstrate flexibility, specifically regarding reciprocal Russian withdrawals, without formally conceding territory.
Trump expressed optimism about the talks, suggesting he expects productive engagement with both Kyiv and Moscow. "I think it's going to go good with him. I think it's going to go good with Putin," Trump said, adding that he expects to speak with the Russian President soon. He further noted that Russia's economy is currently "in tough shape."
In preparation for the meeting, Zelensky has intensified diplomatic outreach, coordinating positions with leaders from NATO, Canada, Germany, Finland, Denmark, and Estonia. He emphasised that "Ukraine has never been and will never be an obstacle to peace." The meeting follows recent discussions between Zelensky, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
While Washington plays a central role in mediation, Russia has shown little public inclination to shift its stance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday that Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy aide to Putin, had communicated with Trump administration officials after receiving the latest proposals, though he did not specify the timing of the conversation.
(Inputs from IANS)