Trump Expresses Optimism for Ukraine Peace Talks
During a recent visit to his Mar-a-Lago club, President Trump shared his belief that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has a real opportunity to reach a peace deal. In a phone call with the Post on Friday, he said, “Well, I think we have a good chance.”
Trump mentioned that both sides seemed eager to negotiate, though, he noted, “every time one side wants to do it, the other one doesn’t want to do it.” He reflected on his past experience, claiming, “I’ve solved eight wars, and this is the most difficult of them. But I think we’ll get it done.”
Zelensky is reportedly presenting a new 20-point peace plan, which builds on a previous 28-point plan created last November by Trump’s negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The latest proposal from Ukraine includes the establishment of a demilitarized “free economic zone.” However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment. One of Putin’s major requirements is for Ukraine to relinquish its strongholds in the northern Donetsk region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated Friday that they are open to continuing dialogue.
In another interview, Trump asserted, “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it, so we’ll see what he has,” referring to Zelensky’s plan.
Meanwhile, Zelensky indicated he would be “ready” to hold a referendum concerning territorial concessions to Russia as part of the peace efforts.
Over the past months, the U.S. president has fluctuated between hopefulness and frustration, even contemplating the possibility of letting Eastern European nations fight among themselves. Trump recalled leaving a meeting with Putin in Alaska in August feeling that peace was attainable after Putin showed openness to accepting international peacekeepers from countries like France and Britain.
Yet, following that moment, Putin hesitated to agree to a requested summit with Zelensky, causing progress to stall once again.
Russia’s slow and steady advances in Ukraine have led to significant casualties, while Zelensky’s negotiating team faced upheaval in late November when his deputy, Andrei Yermak, resigned amid a corruption investigation—he was reportedly considered challenging to work with by U.S. officials.
Since the start of its invasion in February 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has continued its territorial ambitions.
The upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago is seen as distinct from prior White House encounters. Known for his hospitality, Trump often seeks to influence visiting leaders in luxurious settings. On Monday, he’ll also meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his estate to discuss developments in the Gaza peace plan.
Trump recounted a memory from a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017 when he broke significant news about airstrikes while serving an extravagant chocolate cake. “There was the most beautiful chocolate cake I had ever seen,” he reminisced. “He was eating cake and was silent.”
