Zelensky and Trump Set for Florida Talks as Ukraine Says Russia Peace Plan Is Nearly Complete

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida this weekend for talks focused on security guarantees and a proposed peace framework aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Zelensky said discussions would centre on a 20 point peace plan that he described as around 90 per cent ready. He added that Sunday’s meeting would place particular emphasis on long term security arrangements for Ukraine, a key demand for Kyiv as it seeks assurances against future aggression.

The meeting forms part of an intensified US led diplomatic effort to bring the nearly four year conflict to an end. While momentum has picked up in recent weeks, negotiations remain complicated by sharply different positions held by Ukraine and Russia, especially over territory, sovereignty and the future security architecture of the region.

Zelensky’s comments followed a series of high level contacts between Ukrainian and US officials. On Thursday, the Ukrainian leader said he had a productive conversation with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, describing the exchange as constructive and focused on moving discussions forward. While details of those talks were not disclosed, they appear to have helped pave the way for the upcoming Trump Zelensky meeting.

According to Zelensky, the peace framework under discussion outlines steps toward a ceasefire, security guarantees, and mechanisms to prevent renewed fighting. He stressed that while much of the plan has been agreed in principle, sensitive issues remain unresolved and will require political decisions at the highest level.

From Moscow’s side, the Kremlin has confirmed ongoing contact with Washington. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that Russian officials have already been in communication with US representatives. He added that Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev recently met with US envoys in Florida, signalling that parallel diplomatic channels are active.

Despite this engagement, major obstacles persist. Russia and Ukraine continue to hold conflicting positions over occupied territories, and neither side has publicly indicated a willingness to compromise on core demands. Analysts say this gap remains the biggest challenge to translating diplomatic talks into a lasting settlement.

For Ukraine, security guarantees are seen as essential to any agreement, reflecting fears that a pause in fighting without firm protections could leave the country vulnerable. For the United States, the talks represent an attempt to balance pressure on both sides while preventing further escalation and instability in Europe.

As Zelensky and Trump prepare to meet, expectations remain cautious. The discussions may not deliver a final agreement, but they could shape the direction of negotiations in the coming months and determine whether the current diplomatic push can move closer to ending one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts in decades.