Russia Trump has Selenskyj as a guest - but Putin on the phone first
At the start of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that an end to the almost four-year war in Ukraine can be agreed. Both warring parties, including the Russians, wanted an end to the fighting, he said outside the entrance to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he received Zelenskyi. However, he had no deadlines for this, said Trump, who had already set such deadlines several times in the past.
28.12.2025, 20:03
28.12.2025, 20:54
SDA
The Russian side was not present at the bilateral talks in Palm Beach. However, Trump had spoken to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on the phone shortly beforehand and called the conversation "good and very productive".
Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov reported that Trump had agreed with the Kremlin chief that a ceasefire would only "prolong the conflict and risk a resumption of fighting". Selensky had brought a 60-day ceasefire into play in order to have a peace plan evaluated by the population in a referendum.
Trump wants to talk about ceding territory
Ushakov also said that Putin had agreed to the proposal from the American side to continue work on settling the Ukraine crisis within the framework of working groups set up specifically for this purpose. According to the proposal, one of these groups would deal with "various aspects of the security problem" and the other with "economic issues". He did not say anything about the composition. Russia invaded the neighboring country in February 2022; since then, Ukraine has been defending itself against the invasion with Western help.
Trump said that possible territorial cessions should also be part of the talks with Zelensky, but that Ukraine should reap "great economic benefits". He said he would speak to Putin again on the phone after the meeting. Trump also said that he wanted to talk to the Europeans.
Selenskyj: 2,100 drones and 800 glide bombs in one week
This is not the first time that the US President has spoken to Putin on the phone shortly before a meeting with Zelenskyi. The last time the Ukrainian was in the White House in October to ask the US to approve the sale of the US Tomahawk cruise missile to Kiev, Trump had spoken to Putin on the phone the day before. Selensky did not receive the Tomahawk weapon at the time. The US government sees itself as a mediator in the conflict.
Prior to the meeting, Zelensky wrote on X that Russia's daily airstrikes showed that it had no interest in a peace agreement. This week alone, Russia had fired more than 2,100 attack drones, around 800 glide bombs and 94 missiles. "Everything against our people, against life and everything that makes it normal - especially against our energy infrastructure." He called on his country's Western partners to maintain all sanctions and political pressure against Russia.
Selenskyj: "A lot can be decided before the New Year"
Zelenskyi wants to make it clear to Trump that Kiev is not prepared to capitulate and accept a peace solution dictated by the Kremlin and also ask for more air defense systems. "Some of the most active diplomatic days of the year are currently taking place and a lot can be decided before the New Year," said Selensky. Of course, there are also red lines for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, he added.
For example, the Ukrainian had always categorically rejected the cessions of those parts of the Donetsk region that Russia does not yet control, which Trump had also demanded. There are compromise proposals for the outstanding territorial issues, said Selenskyj. This point is one of the most critical on the way to an agreement.
20-point peace plan
The Ukrainian head of state wants to talk to Trump about the 20 points for a possible peace plan he presented on Christmas Eve. The core issue is the security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire in order to be permanently protected from a new Russian attack. Russia sees the majority of Zelensky's points as contradictory to its positions.
Zelenskyi: Grateful for EU aid, but Ukraine needs more
Zelensky also said that negotiations with the Europeans on security guarantees were taking place in parallel. He expressed his gratitude that the EU had decided to provide Ukraine with further financial support in the form of loans worth billions. "But to be honest, there is always a shortage of money, especially for the production of weapons and, above all, drones," he said.
Before the meeting with Trump, the Ukrainian head of state said that he also wanted to talk to the US president about investments for the reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the war. Funds would have to be set up for this purpose and up to 800 billion US dollars (679 billion euros) would have to be raised.
Putin poses in uniform
Before Zelenskyi's new meeting with Trump, Putin appeared in uniform and was demonstratively briefed by his general staff about alleged new conquests in Ukraine. Putin said that Russia could also incorporate the Donbass - which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - militarily. In a video clip published by the Kremlin on Saturday evening, he accused Zelensky of having no interest in a peace agreement. Zelenskyi rejects a withdrawal of his troops from the Donbass.
"And if the power apparatus in Kiev is not prepared to settle the matter peacefully, then we will solve all the tasks ahead of us by force of arms as part of the special military operation," Putin said. Special military operation is the official term in Russia for the war of aggression against Ukraine.
