Dec. 26, 2025, 10:37 a.m. ET
A new chance to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine looms as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump are set to meet on Dec. 28, Zelenskyy said.
Although the White House did not immediately confirm the meeting when contacted by USA TODAY, Zelenskyy said the sit down “is specifically for the purpose of finalizing everything as much as we can.” On social media, Zelenskyy added that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.”
The meeting, which will reportedly take place at Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, comes after a flurry of diplomatic discussions between Ukraine and U.S. officals about a new 20-point peace plan unveiled by Zelensky on Dec. 24. The framework modified provisions – such as one that would’ve shrunk Ukraine’s military – in an earlier U.S. peace agreement draft widely panned as being skewed in favor of Russia.
Zelenskyy’s plan, which was developed in consultation with the U.S., still faces some major hurdles before it is formally presented to Russia.
Territory is a continuing point of contention. Russia wants full control of areas in eastern Ukraine currently under the control of Kyiv’s troops. Zelenskyy indicated he’s willing to consider establishing a demilitarized zone in the region, as the U.S. has proposed, but Ukraine officially prefers to end the conflict along the current battle lines, where its army has built defensive positions.
Another sticking point could be the operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently held by Russia, in the country’s south. Both Russia and Ukraine want to jointly run the plant in concert with the U.S., but at the exclusion of their foe. The U.S. previously indicated it wishes to lead a joint nuclear venture with both Russia and Ukraine there.
But Russia appears unlikely to entertain any peace terms other than its own. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his annual public press conference on Dec. 19, reiterated his previous peace terms – complete control over four disputed regions chief among them.
Contributing: Reuters
