On December 28, negotiations will take place in Florida between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to official information, the meeting will begin at 8:00 PM Kyiv time, which corresponds to 1:00 PM Atlantic Standard Time in the U.S.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Main Agenda Items
The Ukrainian delegation has already arrived at the venue for the negotiations. This was reported by the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Serhiy Kyslytsia, on the night of December 28. The main topic of the meeting is expected to be the security guarantees that the United States is prepared to provide to Ukraine. Trump and Zelensky also plan to discuss the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and control over the territories of Donbas claimed by Russia. Among Kyiv’s proposals is the establishment of a demilitarized zone along the line of conflict.
Volodymyr Zelensky plans to present a peace plan consisting of 20 points, which has been prepared in collaboration with representatives from the U.S. and the European Union. Donald Trump, in a conversation with journalists, emphasized that he expects a productive dialogue with the Ukrainian side.
Possible Concessions and Positions of the Parties
As noted by several experts, the meeting in Florida may indicate significant progress in peace negotiations. Trump had previously stated that he would agree to a meeting only if a final agreement was close. Zelensky reported that Trump’s plan is already 90% agreed upon and that “a lot can be resolved before the New Year.”
“Strong positions are needed both on the front and in diplomacy so that Putin cannot manipulate and avoid a real and fair end to the war,” Zelensky wrote, discussing the meeting with European leaders on his Telegram channel.
However, the main obstacle remains the demands of the Russian Federation for control over the entire territory of Donbas. The American side has proposed creating a demilitarized “free economic zone” in the disputed territories after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops. Zelensky insists on a mirrored withdrawal of Russian troops from the current line of conflict, as well as holding a referendum on any territorial concessions.
So far, Russia has not shown readiness to accept the proposed peace plan. Donald Trump stated that Moscow will have to make concessions as the economic situation in the Russian Federation is significantly deteriorating.
On December 27, during an official visit to Canada, Volodymyr Zelensky held an online conversation with leaders from ten European countries, including Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The leaders discussed joint actions to strengthen Ukraine’s positions on the front and in diplomacy.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Russian Federation, on December 27, held a meeting in military uniform at the command post of the Joint Forces Group, listening to a report from Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The Russian side claimed control over the cities of Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region and Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region; however, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refuted these claims. Putin emphasized that “given the pace we observe at the line of combat contact, our interest in withdrawing Ukrainian military formations from the territories they occupy is practically reduced to zero for various reasons.”