Trump says Ukraine peace deal ‘closer than ever’ but key issues remain
US president Donald Trump has said a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine is “closer than ever”, though a few difficult issues are still unresolved. He spoke after meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Sunday. Earlier, Trump held a phone call with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
One of the main sticking points is the future of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Russia wants to take full control of the area, while Ukraine still holds parts of it. Trump said this was a “very tough issue”, but added that talks are moving in the right direction. Zelensky has suggested a buffer zone or a free economic zone as possible options.
Another unresolved issue is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe. It is currently occupied by Russia. Zelensky says the plant is vital for rebuilding Ukraine after the war.
Both leaders struck an optimistic tone. Trump said security guarantees for Ukraine are almost agreed and that progress should become clear “in a few weeks”. Zelensky added that US security guarantees are “100% agreed” and that the wider 20-point peace plan is 90% approved. He called security guarantees the most important step towards lasting peace.
European leaders were also involved in talks and welcomed what they called “good progress”. The EU said strong security guarantees from the start will be essential.
Another round of talks is expected in Washington as early as January.
© Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE / AFP