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Trump and Zelenskiy Close to Peace Deal, Donbas Issue Remains Unresolved
Trump and Zelenskiy meet at Mar-a-Lago, report progress on Ukraine security guarantees and peace talks. Donbas remains a key unresolved issue, while Russia supports U.S.-brokered negotiations.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-29
Trump and Zelenskiy Close to Peace Deal, Donbas Issue Remains Unresolved

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Sunday that they are “getting a lot closer” to a potential peace agreement to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, although the future of the Donbas region remains unresolved.

The leaders met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, holding a joint news conference where they reported progress on two major sticking points in negotiations: security guarantees for Ukraine and the status of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, which Russia has sought to control.

Zelenskiy confirmed that a deal on security guarantees has been reached, though Trump said the agreement is “95%” complete and expected European nations to take on a significant role with U.S. support. Both leaders refrained from providing a firm deadline for concluding a peace deal, noting that several “thorny issues” around territory remain.

Discussions about Donbas are particularly sensitive. Moscow insists on full control of the region, while Kyiv seeks to freeze the map at current battle lines. The U.S. has proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine withdraws from Donbas, but practical details remain unclear. Zelenskiy emphasized that any agreement would require approval from Ukraine’s parliament or a national referendum.

Ahead of the Zelenskiy meeting, Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than two hours. Trump described the call as “productive,” while the Kremlin termed it “friendly.” Putin reportedly pledged support for rebuilding Ukraine, including providing cheap energy, though he reiterated that foreign troop deployments in Ukraine are unacceptable.

Negotiators have also discussed shared control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, with power line repairs already underway following a local ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump highlighted this as a “big step” and noted that Russia had refrained from bombing the facility.

The weekend before the meeting, Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which Zelenskiy described as a reaction to U.S.-mediated peace efforts. Despite this, Trump expressed confidence that both Putin and Zelenskiy are serious about reaching a settlement.

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, participated in parts of the meeting by phone. They underscored the importance of robust security guarantees and the urgency of ending the conflict. Macron announced plans for a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris in early January to finalize contributions to Ukraine’s security.

While much progress has been reported, the ultimate resolution over Donbas and the precise form of security guarantees will determine whether the decades-long conflict can finally move toward a lasting peace.
Tagged:

UkrainePeace

Donbas

TrumpZelenskiy

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