Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that he plans to meet with President Trump in the “near future,” raising the possibility that renewed peace talks between Ukraine and Russia could gain momentum before the end of the year.
“We are not losing a single day,” Zelensky wrote on the social platform X. “We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year. Glory to Ukraine!”
Zelensky later told reporters that the meeting could take place as early as Sunday in Florida. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
The Ukrainian leader said he hopes the meeting will allow both sides to “finalize as much as we can,” though he stopped short of saying a binding agreement is imminent. He added that Ukraine’s newly unveiled 20-point peace plan is “90% ready,” saying, “the task is to bring it to 100%.”
“Every meeting and every conversation brings us closer to the desired result,” Zelensky told The Washington Post.
Zelensky confirmed that discussions are already underway with Trump’s team. He said he met Thursday with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, during which they “discussed certain substantive details” related to the peace negotiations.
Writing again on X, Zelensky said “good ideas… can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace,” adding, “I hope that today’s Christmas understandings and the ideas we discussed will prove useful.”
The peace plan, released Tuesday, includes limited concessions to Russia while attempting to preserve Ukraine’s long-term security. One key proposal involves creating a heavily fortified “fortress belt” in the Donetsk region, which Russia has sought to control since launching its full-scale invasion.
Rather than formally ceding territory, Zelensky proposed a demilitarized buffer zone that would require both sides to pull back heavy forces.
“If we establish a free economic zone here, and it envisages a virtually demilitarized zone — meaning heavy forces are removed from this area — and the distance, for example, is 40 kilometers (it could be 5, 10, or 40 kilometers) — then if these two cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, are our free economic zone, the Russians would have to pull back their troops accordingly,” Zelensky said Tuesday.
The plan also calls for a national referendum, allowing Ukrainians to vote on the final terms of any peace deal. Zelensky emphasized that a ceasefire would be required for such a vote to be legitimate, CNN reported.
Another notable feature of the proposal is the creation of a peace council chaired by President Trump, highlighting Kyiv’s belief that Trump’s direct involvement could help enforce accountability and bring the conflict to an end.
In a separate Christmas message, Zelensky acknowledged the anger many Ukrainians feel toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying some want to see him dead. He added, however, that Ukraine’s ultimate goal remains peace.
“When we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater,” Zelensky said. “We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it. And we deserve it, so that every Ukrainian family lives in harmony.”
On Sunday, Witkoff said Ukraine “remains fully committed to achieving a just and sustainable peace,” adding that the top U.S. priority is “to stop the killing, ensure guaranteed security, and create conditions for Ukraine’s recovery, stability, and long-term prosperity.” He confirmed that Ukraine’s 20-point plan was discussed during negotiations earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, Putin has continued to publicly reject any meaningful compromises. Last week, he blamed Ukraine for the nearly four-year war and again framed Russia’s invasion as an act of self-defense.
“The issue lies entirely on the other side, the ball is entirely in the court of our so-called Western adversaries, first and foremost the leaders of the Kyiv regime and, in this case especially, their European sponsors,” Putin told reporters. “We are ready for negotiations and to settle the conflict by peaceful means.”
As Zelensky seeks renewed U.S. engagement, the upcoming meeting with President Trump is being closely watched as a potential turning point.
