Donald Trump Says Russia and Ukraine ‘Could Be Very Close’ to a Peace Deal, Despite ‘Thorny’ and ‘Tough’ Issues

Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met again in an effort to advance peace talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The two leaders met at Trump’s Palm Beach, Florida, home and resort, Mar-a-Lago, on Sunday, Dec. 28. After their discussion, Trump suggested negotiations may be nearing a breakthrough—while acknowledging key obstacles remain.

“We could be very close,” Trump said, according to CNN. “There are one or two very thorny issues, very tough issues. But I think we’re doing very well.”

He added that progress has been building over time, not just in a single sitting. “We made a lot of progress today, but really, we’ve made it over the last month,” he said. “This is not a one-day process. It’s very complicated stuff.”

Zelenskyy echoed that sentiment, saying, per The Hill, “We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework.”

Two days before the Dec. 28 meeting, Politico reported that Trump was optimistic heading into the talks. He said he expected things to go well with Zelenskyy and also expressed confidence about conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that he hoped to speak with him “soon.”

Trump also told The New York Post he believed a ceasefire was possible, though he described the process as inconsistent: “I think we have a good shot at [a ceasefire]. I think [Ukraine] want to do it now, and I think that Russia wants to do it. But every time one wants to do it, the other doesn’t.”

At the same time, Trump suggested he retains significant leverage in the negotiations. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” Trump said of Zelenskyy’s peace plan. “So we’ll see what he’s got.”

The latest meeting comes after a tense White House encounter earlier this year involving Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance. That February visit had been expected to include the signing of a natural-resources agreement and momentum toward a broader peace effort, but it turned confrontational as the conversation escalated.

During the exchange, Vance accused Zelenskyy of being “disrespectful” for raising disagreements in front of journalists gathered in the Oval Office. Zelenskyy pushed back, saying Ukraine was trying to resolve the conflict and that others were “in no position to dictate” how Ukrainians should feel about it.

After Zelenskyy’s early departure, multiple international leaders publicly criticized the tone of the meeting and voiced support for Ukraine.

Months later, Trump invited Zelenskyy back to Washington alongside several European leaders for what was described at the time as a more constructive session focused on pathways toward a negotiated end to the war.

That August summit took place shortly after Trump traveled to Alaska to meet with Putin in person. The trip did not produce an agreement, but Trump continued to argue he could deliver a deal.

At an Aug. 18 conference with Zelenskyy and other leaders—European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte—Trump was later heard on a hot mic expressing his belief that Putin was willing to negotiate.

“I think he [Putin] wants to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.”