Donald Trump said Sunday that a deal to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine is closer than ever, though no breakthrough was reported on the contentious issue of territory following fresh talks with both countries' leaders.
Trump, who had promised a peace deal on day one of his nearly year-old presidency, said it would become clear within weeks whether it was possible to solve the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people.
In a pre-New Year's diplomatic sprint, Trump brought to his Florida estate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who described a peace plan as 95% complete despite Russia unleashing major new attacks a day before on Kyiv's residential areas.
Much like when Zelenskyy last met Trump in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin also spoke shortly beforehand by telephone with the U.S. leader, who immediately insisted that Moscow was "serious" about peace despite the assault.
"I really believe we're, Mr. President, probably closer than – far closer than – ever before with both parties," Trump said with Zelenskyy at his side in the tea room of his Mar-a-Lago estate.
"Everybody wants it ended," Trump said.
Zelenskyy looked on politely, only betraying the slightest look of disbelief as Trump told him that Putin, who ordered the February 2022 invasion that has included major attacks on infrastructure, "wants to see Ukraine succeed."
"President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices," Trump said.
He has been careful not to annoy Trump, mindful of his disastrous White House meeting on Feb. 28 where he pushed back and saw the United States briefly snap off key support.
Zelenskyy also nodded politely as Trump insisted the Ukrainians enjoyed the club's food but stayed stoic as Trump digressed into familiar grievances about his predecessor, Joe Biden.
After their talks, Zelenskyy and Trump spoke jointly by telephone with key European leaders, who have been particularly alarmed about any decisions that would embolden Russia.
Zelenskyy said that he and European leaders could return jointly for talks with Trump in Washington in January.
French President Emmanuel Macron also announced a new meeting of Kyiv's allies in early January in Paris.
Trump acknowledged continued disagreement between Kyiv and Moscow on territory. The current plan, revised after weeks of intense U.S.-Ukrainian negotiations, would stop the war at the current frontlines in the eastern Donbas region and set up a demilitarized area, while Russia has long demanded territorial concessions.
"It's unresolved, but it's getting a lot closer. That's a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved," Trump said.
Trump offered to address the Ukrainian parliament to promote the plan – an idea, however unlikely, that Zelenskyy quickly welcomed.
Zelenskyy's openness to the revised U.S. plan marks Kyiv's most explicit acknowledgement yet of possible territorial concessions, although Ukrainians would need to vote in a referendum.
By contrast, Russia has shown no signs of compromise, as it sees hope in the grinding gains it has made over four years against tough Ukrainian defenses.
The Kremlin, in its readout of talks between Putin and Trump, called on Kyiv to make a "bold and responsible decision" and immediately withdraw troops from Donbas and cast European leaders as the impediment to Trump.
Trump and Putin agree that a "temporary cease-fire" would "merely prolong the conflict and risk a renewed escalation on the battlefield," Kremlin diplomatic advisor Yuri Ushakov said.
He said that Trump and Putin would speak again "promptly" after the Zelenskyy meeting, although there was no immediate news of a second call.
Trump's advisors have previously floated the idea of offering NATO-like security guarantees to Ukraine, meaning in theory that the alliance's members would respond militarily if Russia attacks again.
Zelenskyy said that the peace framework laid out by Trump was "90% agreed" and that "U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees: 100% agreed."
Russia had adamantly rejected any entrance of the former Soviet republic into NATO.
