New York: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a proposed peace plan to end the war with Russia is “90% ready” following talks with US President Donald Trump, who said both sides were “very close” to a potential breakthrough.
The meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate came amid intensified air strikes by Russia on Ukraine and retaliatory attacks by Kyiv on a Moscow oil refinery, underscoring the fragility of ongoing peace efforts.
Trump cautioned that a deal was not guaranteed, telling reporters that it was “possible it doesn’t happen,” adding that clarity would emerge within weeks.
Zelensky said US and Ukrainian teams would meet as early as next week to finalise outstanding issues. Trump is also expected to host Ukrainian and European leaders in Washington next month.
Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said negotiations would continue through two working groups — one focused on security and the other on economic issues — with their terms likely to be finalised in early January.
Zelensky said security guarantees were central to achieving lasting peace. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the view, stressing the need for “ironclad” guarantees, including military support from Western Europe, backed by a bilateral security agreement with the US.
Russia, meanwhile, remains firm on its demand for full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region. Ushakov warned that Kyiv should take a “responsible political decision” without delay, citing developments on the battlefield.
