U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have said that significant progress has been made in ceasefire negotiations over the war in Ukraine, though President Trump acknowledged that the issue of territorial concessions remains unresolved.
Following their meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, both leaders described the talks as “excellent.” However, Trump noted that one or two highly complex issues are still outstanding—particularly the question of land and territory.
President Zelensky said that agreement has been reached on nearly 90 percent of a 20-point peace plan, while Trump stated that discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine are about 95 percent complete. Zelensky also confirmed that delegations from Ukraine and the United States are expected to resume talks again next week.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, nearly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory has come under Moscow’s control. The proposal to designate the eastern Donbas region as a demilitarized zone remains a major sticking point. Trump said that some territory has already been seized, while other areas may still be subject to negotiation, adding that the situation should become clearer in the coming months.
Currently, Russia controls about 75 percent of Donetsk and nearly 99 percent of Luhansk. Moscow is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from the remaining parts of the Donbas region, a demand that Kyiv has firmly rejected.
Trump also indicated that a trilateral meeting involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine could take place at an appropriate time. However, he warned that if the talks fail, there is a risk the war could be prolonged even further.
Source: BBC