US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky say their recent talks on ending the war in Ukraine showed real progress, though both admit some difficult issues are still unresolved.
Speaking after meetings in Florida, Trump described the discussions as productive but warned that “one or two very thorny issues” remain. Chief among them is the question of territory, as Russia continues to demand control over parts of Ukraine it has occupied since the war began.
Zelensky said the talks were encouraging, revealing that about 90 percent of a proposed 20-point peace plan had already been agreed upon. Trump also claimed that security guarantees for Ukraine were nearly complete, estimating them to be about 95 percent finalised, though details on enforcement and long-term protection remain unclear.
Ukraine and US officials are expected to continue negotiations next week as they work through the remaining disagreements. Zelensky praised the discussions, saying both sides had engaged seriously and that steady progress had been made in recent weeks.
The war began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory. One of the most sensitive unresolved matters is the future of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, much of which remains under Russian control. Trump said proposals around demilitarising the area are still on the table but far from settled.
Russia wants Ukraine to withdraw from the parts of Donbas it still controls, while Kyiv has suggested turning the region into a free economic zone secured by Ukrainian forces. Trump acknowledged the complexity of the issue, calling it “very tough” but expressed confidence that a solution would eventually be reached.
On security, Trump said protections for Ukraine are close to being finalised, though he stopped short of committing to troop deployments or specific military support. He also raised the possibility of future talks involving the US, Russia and Ukraine together, saying such a meeting could happen when the time is right.
Earlier, Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While details of the call were limited, Trump said he believed Putin wants an outcome that allows Ukraine to succeed, even as he acknowledged Russia’s resistance to certain ceasefire proposals.
European leaders have reacted cautiously but positively to the Florida talks. EU officials welcomed the progress while stressing that Ukraine must receive firm and reliable security guarantees. France has announced plans to host further discussions with Ukraine’s allies early next year to clarify each country’s commitments.
Despite the optimistic tone, Trump warned that peace is not guaranteed. If talks stall or collapse, he said, the war could drag on, underlining how fragile the current momentum remains.