US President Donald Trump has said a peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is closer than ever, but admitted that the explosive issue of territory remains unresolved.
Speaking on Sunday after fresh talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said the coming weeks would determine whether the conflict, which has killed tens of thousands, can finally be brought to an end.
Trump, who had promised to end the war on his first day in office, made the remarks during a flurry of end-of-year diplomacy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he hosted Zelensky for high-level talks.
“I really believe we’re probably closer than ever before with both parties,” Trump said, with Zelensky standing beside him. “Everybody wants it ended.”
The talks came just a day after Russia launched fresh attacks on residential areas in Kyiv, even as Zelensky claimed the proposed peace plan was “95 per cent complete.”
Before meeting Zelensky, Trump also spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and later insisted Moscow was “serious” about peace, despite the renewed assault.
Trump went further, saying Putin “wants to see Ukraine succeed,” a comment that Zelensky received with visible restraint.
“President Putin was very generous in his feelings toward Ukraine succeeding,” Trump said, adding that Russia had previously supplied Ukraine with energy at low prices.
Zelensky, clearly cautious not to antagonise Trump, avoided confrontation, a lesson learned from their tense White House clash earlier this year, which briefly led Washington to suspend key support for Kyiv.
After the meeting, Trump and Zelensky jointly held a call with European leaders, many of whom remain deeply uneasy about any peace deal that could reward Russian aggression.
Zelensky later said he and key European allies could return to Washington for further talks in January, while French President Emmanuel Macron announced a new meeting of Ukraine’s allies in Paris early next month.
Despite the optimism, Trump acknowledged that the biggest sticking point remains territory.
The current US-backed proposal would freeze the war along existing frontlines in eastern Donbas and establish a demilitarised zone. Russia, however, continues to demand formal territorial concession.
“It’s unresolved, but it’s getting a lot closer,” Trump said. “That’s a very tough issue.”
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Trump also floated the idea of addressing Ukraine’s parliament to sell the plan directly to lawmakers, a proposal Zelensky quickly welcomed.
Kyiv’s willingness to discuss territorial compromises marks its clearest signal yet of flexibility, though Zelensky stressed any such decision would require approval through a national referendum.
Russia, on its part, has shown little sign of softening its stance. The Kremlin said Putin urged Ukraine to make a “bold and responsible decision” by withdrawing troops from Donbas, while accusing European leaders of obstructing peace.
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov also dismissed a temporary ceasefire, warning it would only delay the conflict and risk renewed fighting.
