President Donald Trump greeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Seashore, Florida, Sunday afternoon for the subsequent spherical of talks to finish the battle with Russia within the Ukraine.
“We’re going to have an excellent assembly at present, I believe,” Trump informed reporters as he and Zelenskyy posed for images.
Trump mentioned he believes each Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Zelenskyyt are able to strike a deal.
President Donald Trump welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Seashore, Fla., December 28, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
“I do, I do. I believe he’s. I believe they each are,” Trump mentioned.
The president posted on-line earlier Sunday that he had spoken to Putin shortly earlier than this assembly started and deliberate to talk with him once more after the assembly ended. The Kremlin later confirmed that the decision had taken place, in response to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
When requested what was his message to Putin in his name, Trump mentioned, “You gotta make a deal. You bought to get it performed. Too many individuals dying, and I believe each presidents need to make a deal. I do consider that.”
President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy obtain questions from the media as Zelenskyy arrives for conferences at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership in Palm Seashore, Fla., December 28, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Regardless of vowing on the marketing campaign path to finish the battle in Ukraine on day one, Trump on Sunday appeared to reasonable expectations, telling reporters that he has no deadline to safe a peace settlement.
“I don’t have deadlines,” Trump mentioned. “I believe we’re in last phases of speaking, and we’re going to see, in any other case it’s going to go on for a very long time. It’ll both finish or it’s going to go on for a very long time.”
When pressed whether or not Putin is critical about peace, contemplating Russia’s relentless assaults on Ukraine – together with dozens of drone strikes on Ukraine in a single day, in response to the air pressure in Kyiv – Trump reiterated that he thinks Putin is “critical.”
“No, he’s very critical. I believe, you already know, I can say that. I consider Ukraine has made some very sturdy assaults additionally,” Trump mentioned. “Look, the folks of Ukraine need it to finish, and the folks of Russia need it to finish, and the 2 leaders need it to finish.”
Zelensky mentioned he got here to Mar-a-Lago Sunday to pitch the president on the 20-point plan. Main sticking factors stay, together with Ukraine’s push for stronger U.S. safety ensures, in addition to territorial disputes. But Ukraine has come ready with a major concession: Zelensky has provided the thought of a demilitarized buffer zone within the Donbas area in Jap Ukraine, territory Putin has lengthy sought to manage.
President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Seashore, Fla., December 28, 2025.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
When requested concerning the specifics of safety ensures for Ukraine, Trump lashed out on the reporter, calling the query “dumb,” however mentioned there can be a “sturdy settlement” to guarantee Ukraine’s safety.
“No person even is aware of what the safety information, settlement goes to say. However there will likely be a safety settlement. It’s going to be a robust settlement. And the European nations are very a lot concerned in that will likely be very a lot concerned in that. They’ll be very a lot concerned in safety, et cetera,” Trump mentioned.
The president then pivoted to discussing the opposite peace offers he claims he’s made, placing an optimistic tone that at present’s assembly might result in one other.
“We will have an incredible assembly at present. This gentleman has labored very onerous, and he is very courageous, and his individuals are very courageous. With what they’ve gone by way of, no nation, very hardly ever has a nation ever needed to undergo this. So, we’re going to have an excellent assembly at present, I believe I am additionally calling President Putin again after the assembly and we’ll proceed the negotiation. Fairly complicated, however not that complicated,” Trump mentioned.
After the greeting, cameras have been briefly allowed inside into the bilateral lunch, the place officers from each side have been seated. The president had the press escorted out of the room and requested to have the chef put together them lunch.
The U.S. delegation current on the talks, per the White Home, included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chief of Employees Susie Wiles, particular Mideast Envoy Steve Witkoff, Joint Chiefs of Employees Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, White Home advisor Stephen Miller, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son in legislation.
