Palm Beach/Kyiv/Moscow, 29 December (H.S.): US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that negotiations to end the Ukraine war have reached their final stages, emphasizing no fixed deadline as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for pivotal discussions on a revised peace proposal.

The two leaders, addressing reporters outside the resort ahead of closed-door talks, underscored shared determination to halt the nearly four-year conflict, with Trump praising a preceding productive call with Russian President Vladimir Putin as evidence of Moscow's seriousness.

Zelensky, arriving after a stopover in Canada, described the encounter as potentially very constructive while pressing for ironclad security guarantees.

Mar-a-Lago Meeting Highlights

Trump and Zelensky convened at 1:00 pm (1800 GMT) in Mar-a-Lago's dining room, reviewing a 20-point draft peace plan refined through weeks of US-Ukraine negotiations, which envisions freezing hostilities along current front lines and creating demilitarised buffer zones in eastern Ukraine.

Trump told gathered media that failure to seal a deal would prolong the war indefinitely, potentially costing millions more lives, but affirmed optimism: We're in the final stages of talking, and we're going to see.

He stressed a forthcoming strong agreement involving European nations to safeguard Ukraine post-ceasefire, while noting Putin had expressed willingness to support Kyiv's reconstruction, including low-cost energy supplies.

Zelensky, facing Trump's prior rebuff of long-range missile requests in October, signalled flexibility on limited troop withdrawals from eastern sectors to enable monitored demilitarised areas, provided Russia reciprocates under international oversight.

The Ukrainian leader characterised security assurances as 100% finalized in prior talks with Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, though Trump pegged them at 95%, with territorial issues—particularly Donbas—remaining the chief impasse.

Preceding Putin Call and Kremlin Stance

Hours before Zelensky's arrival, Trump held a 75-minute telephone discussion with Putin, which the US president hailed on Truth Social as very good and productive, with plans for a follow-up post-Florida.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed the friendly exchange, revealing mutual rejection of a European-Ukrainian proposal for a 60-day temporary ceasefire, deeming it a mere prolongation allowing Kyiv to rearm.

Ushakov urged Ukraine to make a brave decision by promptly withdrawing from the roughly 10-20% of Donbas—specifically Donetsk region—it still controls, aligning with Moscow's core demand for recognition of its territorial gains comprising about one-fifth of Ukraine.

Putin, from a Moscow military command post, reiterated resolve to achieve objectives militarily if diplomacy falters, citing recent captures of eastern towns as leverage.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lambasted European states as the main obstacle, accusing them of war preparations that sabotage Trump's initiative.

Broader Diplomatic Pressures

The Mar-a-Lago summit follows Russia's massive drone-and-missile barrage on Kyiv en route to Zelensky's US visit, where nearly 500 drones and scores of missiles struck energy infrastructure, killing at least one civilian, injuring dozens, and blacking out power and heat for hundreds of thousands amid freezing conditions—no major accidents reported beyond structural damage and fires in residential areas like Brovary.

Zelensky cited the assault—featuring temporary outages across the capital region—as proof Putin doesn't want peace, while demanding sustained Western arms, funding, and binding guarantees.

European leaders voice wariness over concessions rewarding aggression, as Trump positions himself as president of peace, blending pressure on Kyiv for compromise with incentives for Moscow's reintegration. Outcomes may clarify in weeks, per Trump, hinging on Donbas resolution, Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant oversight, and verifiable de-escalation.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar