Miami: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Miami on Sunday for a crucial meeting with former US President Donald Trump, as Washington intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal to end the Russia–Ukraine war.
According to CNN, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump later in the day at Trump’s Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. The talks come as the conflict enters its fourth year, remaining Europe’s deadliest war since World War II.
Hello Americans, Zelensky is in Miami ,Watch Your Pockets
— Vladimir Putin News (@vladimirputiniu) December 28, 2025
A 20-Point Peace Proposal
Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said he would present a newly drafted 20-point peace plan, which includes the concept of a demilitarised zone and outlines possible US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine’s long-term safety.
Trump, however, signalled caution. Speaking to Politico, he said he was not ready to endorse the proposal, remarking that Zelenskyy “doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” underscoring the leverage Washington holds over Kyiv’s diplomatic options.
Ukraine’s Stakes, Washington’s Pressure
The comments reflect how deeply Ukraine’s future strategy now hinges on persuading Trump, who has repeatedly argued for a rapid end to the war and has, at times, suggested compromises that Kyiv previously resisted. While Russia has shown little flexibility, US negotiators have reportedly encouraged Ukraine to soften some of its earlier red lines.
Zelenskyy said he could not guarantee a final breakthrough from Sunday’s talks but stressed that both sides would aim to “finalise as much as we can.” Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
Path to Wider Negotiations
Trump expressed optimism about the meeting and said he hoped to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon. “I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with Putin,” Trump said, hinting at the possibility of broader negotiations.
The Miami visit follows Zelenskyy’s earlier discussions with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, talks the Ukrainian leader described as “productive.”
Territorial Signals and What’s Next
Notably, the new 20-point framework marks Kyiv’s clearest signal yet that it may be open to limited territorial concessions—an approach that contrasts sharply with a previous 28-point US proposal floated last month that closely mirrored several Russian demands.
Zelenskyy said the current plan, jointly prepared by Ukrainian and US officials, is “90 per cent ready” and that his discussions with Trump will focus on how Ukraine’s allies can provide credible, long-term security guarantees if a ceasefire or settlement is reached.
As global attention turns to Miami, the meeting could shape the next phase of diplomacy in a war that has reshaped European security and tested the limits of US-led peacemaking.
