US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Sunday in Florida for face-to-face talks centered on a revised 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, with both sides signaling progress but acknowledging that major issues—especially territory—remain unresolved.
Based on reporting on the talks, the meeting focused on narrowing gaps in a draft framework that Ukraine has presented as its most realistic pathway toward a negotiated end to the conflict. Zelensky said key elements—including security guarantees—are central to any deal, while Trump indicated the sides were “a lot closer” to an agreement, though “thorny issues” persist.
A Reuters overview of the proposed framework says the updated plan includes commitments and mechanisms spanning security, territorial arrangements, humanitarian measures, and reconstruction. Among the major pillars are:
Reaffirmation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and non-aggression commitments from Russia
Robust security guarantees described as NATO-style in character
A pathway toward EU membership and deeper economic integration
A large-scale reconstruction package estimated at roughly $800 billion
Humanitarian provisions such as prisoner exchanges and other confidence-building steps
Reuters reports that most points have been moved closer in the revised draft, but the most sensitive questions are still the hardest: territory (including parts of eastern Ukraine) and the future status/operation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
What remains unsettled
While the sides spoke positively about progress, multiple reports highlight that territorial control remains a core sticking point. Reuters notes unresolved questions on territory and the Zaporizhzhia plant, even as talks advance on other sections of the draft.
Zelensky has also emphasized that any final peace settlement would require public legitimacy inside Ukraine. On Monday, he said the plan should ultimately be put to a national referendum, adding that holding such a vote would require at least a 60-day ceasefire to ensure basic stability.
The Florida meeting comes amid an intensified US-led diplomatic push. Reuters reports Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Zelensky meeting and planned follow-up engagement afterward as part of efforts to line up positions for broader talks.
Both sides indicated that technical teams would continue refining the remaining contentious points, with further meetings expected as Washington and Kyiv seek to broaden the conversation to include European partners.
The Russia-Ukraine war has continued since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, with repeated attempts at negotiations failing to secure a lasting settlement. The latest diplomatic activity comes as Russia continues strikes on Ukraine and Ukraine insists any deal must include credible guarantees against renewed aggression.
Image: President Donald Trump, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at White House in February. (Getty Images)
