Ukraine's grinding diplomatic effort to end the war is about to hit a crucial moment. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that he'll meet with President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to hammer out details of what could actually become a peace deal.
The stakes are high, and the timing matters. Zelenskyy says the U.S.-brokered peace framework—a sprawling 20-point plan—is roughly 90% complete. He's also bringing separate proposals for American security guarantees to the table. According to the Ukrainian leader, negotiations are picking up speed, and "a lot can be decided" before the year ends.
Trump, speaking with Politico on Friday, made clear who holds the cards here. Any deal, he said, ultimately needs his sign-off. He also mentioned he expects to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, which tells you everything about how this diplomacy actually works.
The relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump has been rocky. Their February meeting at the White House turned into a public blowup. But their most recent encounter in October was apparently much friendlier, suggesting both sides understand they need each other to make this work.
What's Actually in This Peace Plan
The latest proposal centers on creating a demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine, where both armies would pull back forces. Cleverly, it sidesteps the messier question of who legally controls the contested territory—a detail both sides can't agree on anyway.
Zelenskyy has floated the idea of turning parts of the Donbas that Russia hasn't fully captured into a demilitarized "free economic zone." Think of it as a buffer with commercial benefits.
Ukraine is also demanding binding security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe that mirror NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause. Plus, they want to maintain a military force of around 800,000 troops. Russia, unsurprisingly, opposes both ideas.
Russia Isn't Making This Easy
Russian officials acknowledge "slow but steady progress" in negotiations, but they insist the plan being discussed with Kyiv isn't the same as what Moscow is reviewing with Washington. That's either diplomatic gamesmanship or a sign these talks could fall apart over details.
The Kremlin's position remains maximalist: full control of the Donbas region, including areas Russian forces don't currently occupy. Which makes you wonder how close to a deal anyone really is.