A trip overseas as diplomacy races against time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday to discuss new peace proposals and attempt an acceleration before the end of the year. The appointment arrives in a climate marked by conflicting signals: on the one hand American activism, on the other the words of Moscow, which speaks of an agreement “never so close” but accuses Kiev and Europe of wanting to “scuttle” it.
Different readings remain on the table. “There are no indications that Russia is interested in peace or a ceasefire,” declared EU Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podestà, recalling that “for any peace plan to be successful, Europe’s support will be essential.” Zelensky is of the same opinion, who would like the involvement of the allies, probably via remote connection.
The peace plan and the open issues
The Ukrainian leader has already had contacts with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and with the Prime Ministers of Estonia and Canada, Kristen Michal and Mark Carney. Confirming the trip to Florida, Zelensky spoke of a meeting “at the highest level”, underlining that “a lot can be decided before the new year”. The peace plan, he admitted, would be “90% ready”, but on the remaining 10% the distances remain significant.
The basis of the discussion is a 20-point text drawn up in the latest round of negotiations between the United States and Ukraine and already sent to Moscow. Central nodes include Donbass and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. In the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson the current troop deployment line is referred to as a line of contact, with the hypothesis of a Russian withdrawal and the deployment of international monitoring forces.
The positions of the USA and Russia
According to Zelensky, Moscow demands that Ukraine give up Donetsk. The United States is proposing a free economic zone, a solution that Kiev would make subject to a parliamentary vote or referendum. On the post-war front, presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak reported that Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey would be ready to evaluate sending contingents for a deterrence and peacekeeping mission.
For the Zaporizhzhia power plant, Washington has hypothesized shared management between Kiev, Moscow and the USA, a proposal rejected by Ukraine, which wants to exclude the Russians. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declared Moscow’s willingness to sign a non-aggression pact with the NATO countries. Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov reiterates that a solution “is close”, but accuses Kiev and the European Union of hindering the agreement.
Trump’s words
«I think it will go well» with Volodymyr Zelensky, «I think it will also go well with Putin». Donald Trump said this to Politico, underlining that he expects to speak with the Russian president “soon”. However, Trump cold-shouldered Zelensky and his proposal: “it has nothing concrete until I approve it.”
The war continues
Meanwhile the conflict continues on the ground. During the night between Friday and Saturday Russian attacks hit critical infrastructure in several regions of Ukraine. In Odessa, drone strikes hit infrastructure, causing a fire and power outages. Kiev’s air defense announced the shooting down of dozens of drones. The raids on Christmas Day caused at least three deaths and several injuries in the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kherson, confirming that the distance from a truce still remains wide.