Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Mar-a-Lago this Sunday to meet with US President Donald Trump, with the primary goal of finalizing a comprehensive Ukraine-Russia peace framework. The summit comes with the plan at approximately 90% completion, leaving critical final elements that require executive-level decision-making.
Zelenskyy announced the upcoming summit through social media, emphasizing that his team is not losing any time in preparing for crucial discussions with Trump. The Ukrainian leader indicated that talks would focus on the most sensitive components of peace arrangements, including security guarantees for Ukraine, reconstruction financing, territorial questions surrounding the Donbas region, and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He told reporters that the goal of finalizing the framework creates urgency for the meeting.
The peace proposal under consideration builds upon a 28-point document that emerged from November discussions between US envoys and Russian officials. That initial framework faced criticism for appearing to favor Russian positions, leading Ukraine to advocate for revisions including stronger security commitments modeled on NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense provisions. However, substantial uncertainty remains about Moscow’s willingness to accept such guarantees, with Zelenskyy observing that Russian negotiators persistently seek justifications to reject peace proposals.
President Trump offered measured remarks about the upcoming summit, describing his expectations as “good” while declining to commit to supporting any specific proposals. The American president emphasized his decisive role in the peace process, stating that Zelenskyy “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.” Trump also indicated plans to speak with Putin soon, maintaining direct communication with the Russian leader as negotiations continue. Recent diplomatic activity has been particularly intensive, with Trump’s envoy conducting separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Miami.
The pursuit of finalizing the framework continues amid ongoing military operations and complex battlefield dynamics. Kyiv experienced powerful explosions early Saturday as air defenses engaged incoming missiles and drones, highlighting the conflict’s persistent intensity. In a significant military development, Ukrainian forces recently recaptured the city of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, contradicting earlier Russian military claims. This discrepancy sparked criticism from prominent Russian military bloggers, who accused officials of systematically providing false battlefield reports. As Putin reportedly reiterates maximalist demands while hinting at possible limited territorial swaps, the Mar-a-Lago visit this Sunday to finalize the Ukraine-Russia peace framework could prove to be a defining moment in diplomatic efforts.