Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to arrive in the United States this Sunday, as the situation in his capital, Kyiv, remains precarious with ongoing assaults from Russian missiles and drones. This visit serves as a stark reminder of the enduring conflict, even as peace talks accelerate. The meeting, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET at Mar-a-Lago, will bring together Zelensky and former President Donald Trump to discuss the revisions of a peace plan aimed at resolving the nearly four-year-long war.
The meeting was announced just two days prior and aims to bridge the gaps in Trump's original 28-point peace proposal, which has since been condensed to 20 points by Ukraine. American officials have been diligently working to create a consensus proposal that both Ukraine and Russia can accept. Trump, who has been enjoying a holiday in Palm Beach since December 20, will momentarily pause his break to engage in these critical discussions.
Prior to this meeting, Zelensky conducted an hour-long phone call with Steve Witkoff, Trump's foreign envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, who is also involved in finalizing the peace agreement. Trump has indicated that he did not see meetings with Zelensky or European allies as beneficial unless they were approaching a deal, highlighting the advanced stage of negotiations. Reports from American officials suggest that significant progress has been made, with one stating that 90% of the agreement's terms are settled, a figure confirmed by Zelensky.
Despite the positive developments, the remaining 10% of the terms remain contentious, particularly concerning land concessions required to conclude the ongoing conflict. Russia continues to assert its maximalist demands, insisting that Ukraine relinquish control of the entire eastern Donbas region. However, Zelensky has become more open to the idea of concessions, even suggesting that any peace plan could be subjected to a referendum in Ukraine if Russia agrees to a ceasefire. This aligns with Ukraine's constitutional requirement for any territorial changes to be approved by the populace.
One intriguing proposal from the US side involves the creation of an economic free zone in eastern Ukraine to help resolve the impasse. Additionally, the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russia and the largest in Europe, remains unresolved. Zelensky has proposed that the plant be managed by a joint enterprise between the US and Ukraine, with half of the electricity produced allocated to Ukraine and the rest managed by the US.
Notably, Russia will not be represented at this pivotal meeting, raising questions about Moscow's willingness to agree to an immediate ceasefire. Trump has pointed fingers at both Ukraine and Russia as impediments to peace. On the eve of the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that if Kyiv fails to seek a peaceful resolution, Russia will pursue its objectives through military means.
As Ukraine's air force reported an overnight assault involving 519 drones and 40 missiles, Zelensky underscored the contradiction between ongoing Russian talks and the violence occurring on the ground. Nevertheless, US officials remain optimistic about the potential outcomes of the meeting, following a week of intensive negotiations between US and Ukrainian representatives. Zelensky aims to finalize a framework to end the conflict, which includes specific security guarantees from the United States to prevent further Russian invasions post-war.
Earlier discussions in Berlin led to a set of proposed security guarantees, mirroring NATO's Article 5, designed to deter further Russian aggression and establish mechanisms for conflict resolution and peace monitoring. These guarantees would articulate the repercussions for Russia in the event of any violations. A senior US official described this security framework as the most comprehensive set of protocols ever proposed, although specifics remain under wraps.
Trump has expressed readiness to present these US-backed security guarantees to Congress, labeling the package as the “platinum standard” of support for Ukraine. He believes he can persuade Moscow to accept these guarantees and has also noted Russia's openness to Ukraine potentially joining the European Union as part of any peace agreement.
This Sunday’s meeting is expected to lack the participation of European leaders, in contrast to previous discussions. After a turbulent meeting in February, where tensions flared, Zelensky’s team has been advocating for this crucial dialogue with Trump since their last engagement in October. European officials anticipate a productive meeting, but acknowledge the unpredictable nature of discussions with Trump, emphasizing that there are no guaranteed outcomes when engaging with the former president.