Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Sunday in West Palm Beach, Florida, in a high-stakes bid to push stalled peace talks toward a breakthrough—while Russia continues to bombard Kyiv with missiles and drones.
The surprise 1 p.m. ET meeting at Mar-a-Lago, announced just days ago, comes after weeks of intensive US-led negotiations aimed at finalizing a peace framework to end the nearly four-year war. Trump’s original 28-point proposal has been narrowed to a 20-point plan, with US officials saying 90% of the deal is agreed. Zelensky confirmed that figure on Friday.
The remaining issues are the hardest: territorial concessions, security guarantees, and the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Moscow continues to demand full control of eastern Donbas, while Kyiv has begun signaling limited flexibility—contingent on a ceasefire and a national referendum.
Even as talks accelerate, Russia has escalated attacks. Ukraine’s air force said Moscow launched 519 drones and 40 missiles overnight into Saturday. Zelensky warned that Russia’s actions on the battlefield contradict its diplomatic posture.
US officials say Trump believes he can push both sides toward agreement, including persuading Russia to accept US-backed security guarantees modeled on NATO’s Article 5. The package—described by officials as the “platinum standard”—would deter future Russian aggression and outline consequences for violations. Trump is reportedly open to taking the guarantees to Congress.
Russia will not participate in Sunday’s meeting. President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that if Kyiv refuses a political settlement, Moscow will achieve its goals “by military means.”
Trump struck a familiar note of leverage ahead of the meeting, telling Politico: “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it.”
With European leaders sidelined from this round of talks, Sunday’s meeting could determine whether diplomacy overtakes battlefield momentum—or whether the war grinds on despite near-complete negotiations.
