For Zelensky, Simply Keeping Trump Engaged in Ukraine Peace Talks is a Success
A fresh round of negotiations between Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump appears to have yielded little besides a commitment to reconvene next month and a reminder of the considerable distance to a peace agreement. However, for Mr. Zelensky, even a standstill in these discussions is seen as advancement. Following setbacks in U.S. assistance to Ukraine this year, one of Mr. Zelensky’s primary goals during his meeting with Mr. Trump was to ensure that talks would not come undone. After the Sunday meeting, Mr. Trump indicated his intention to stay involved in the negotiations — a positive outcome for Ukraine, considering his previous threats to disengage. Additionally, Mr. Trump refrained from proposing another deadline for a peace deal, having earlier suggested Thanksgiving and Christmas as potential target dates. “I don’t have deadlines,” Mr. Trump remarked to reporters as he welcomed Mr. Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago in Florida for the discussions. “You know what my deadline is? Ending the war.” Crucially for Ukraine, Mr. Trump did not echo Russia’s maximalist demands for a cessation of hostilities, contrasting with earlier phases of his administration when he often seemed to align with the Kremlin. This shift is particularly significant since Mr. Trump had a conversation with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia shortly before he met with Mr. Zelensky, a last-minute Russian involvement that has previously jeopardized Ukrainian aspirations.
This development might lead Mr. Zelensky to feel that Kyiv and Washington are more closely unified regarding the peace talks. Several European leaders participated in Sunday’s discussions via phone, and Mr. Zelensky indicated that the United States may host another series of negotiations next month, which could involve them. “We had a really great discussion on all the topics, and we value the advancements made by American and Ukrainian teams in recent weeks,” Mr. Zelensky stated. Nonetheless, he recognized that various unresolved issues still remained in the draft peace agreement, including the status of Ukrainian-held territory in the east and the Russian-occupied nuclear facility.
As Mr. Zelensky made his way to Florida, there were concerns among some Ukrainians that he might enter another meeting where Mr. Trump would urge him to quickly finalize a peace deal favorable to Moscow. This anxiety heightened when the White House unexpectedly announced that Mr. Trump had communicated with Mr. Putin. In October, Mr. Trump similarly held an unannounced conversation with Mr. Putin just before meeting Mr. Zelensky to discuss the supply of advanced U.S. cruise missiles to Kyiv. During that discussion, Mr. Putin seemed to dissuade Mr. Trump from selling the missiles. Mr. Trump later conveyed to Mr. Zelensky that Ukraine would not receive the weapons in a meeting described by European officials as tense.
Mr. Trump characterized Sunday’s phone call with Mr. Putin as “good and very productive.” Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s chief foreign policy advisor, stated in a news briefing that their discussion lasted over an hour. Mr. Ushakov also reaffirmed the Kremlin’s stance that Kyiv should relinquish territory in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine to secure peace. Mr. Trump stated he intended to contact Mr. Putin again after his meeting with Mr. Zelensky, though it was unclear whether he did so. Unlike October, however, Mr. Trump on Sunday avoided repeating the Kremlin’s demands and did not press Ukraine for a hasty agreement. “This is not a one-day process deal,” Mr. Trump explained to reporters. “This involves very complicated matters.” Mr. Zelensky commented that the peace plan was “90 percent” finished, the same status he reported prior to traveling to Florida. He added that U.S. and European allies were close to being aligned on the security assurances they would provide Ukraine to avert further Russian aggression. He also highlighted Ukraine’s proposition for a compromise on territorial concerns: establishing a demilitarized zone from which both Ukrainian and Russian forces would withdraw.
Mr. Trump adopted a more cautious stance when asked about the negotiations’ progress. “The term ‘agreement’ is too strong,” he remarked. Regarding the territorial dispute, he mentioned, “I wouldn’t say ‘agreed,’ but we’re moving closer to an understanding on that.” Perhaps the most promising aspect for Ukraine was Mr. Trump’s apparent readiness to undertake a new round of talks next month in the United States, possibly including European leaders at the table. In earlier negotiations, European leaders had been involved to salvage discussions following disagreements between Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Trump. Their role as full participants rather than just late-stage problem-solvers could enhance Ukraine’s negotiating strength.
Published: 2025-12-29 10:50:00
source: www.nytimes.com
