Trump-Zelenskyy meeting may set stage for first Putin call since 2020

Fox News reported the information, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.

The high-stakes Florida meeting represents the latest effort by Trump to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, with the president expressing optimism about reaching a peace agreement. Trump told reporters alongside Zelenskyy that he believes "we have the makings of a deal" and suggested the process could "move very rapidly."

"I think we're in the final stages of talking, and we're going to see," Trump said. "Otherwise, it's going to go on for a long time. It'll either end, or it's going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed."

According to the source, arranging a call between Zelenskyy and Putin would represent a significant breakthrough, as the two leaders haven't spoken since July 2020. That conversation centered on a failed Ukrainian intelligence operation targeting Russian Wagner mercenaries in Belarus.

"If Putin had joined in a call Sunday, this would have been the greatest achievement in the preparation of the peace talks and the first real step in the peace process," the source said. "This would be [a] diplomatic victory for President Trump."

The source described the challenge Trump faces as a mediator, noting that Putin and Zelenskyy "perceive each other emotionally." Since their last call, Putin has consistently refused Zelenskyy's attempts at communication, including potential opportunities in August and September 2024 that vanished after Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

Trump confirmed he had spoken with Putin before meeting Zelenskyy, calling the conversation "good and very productive" in a social media post.

Sunday's discussions focused on an emerging 20-point peace plan that U.S. officials say is roughly 90% complete. The proposal would require significant compromises from both Kyiv and Moscow, potentially including limited Ukrainian troop withdrawals from eastern territories without formal recognition of Russian control and the establishment of demilitarized zones.

Zelenskyy has indicated he might submit any final agreement to a national referendum if Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire. However, the Ukrainian leader has drawn a firm line on security guarantees, insisting his country needs legally binding assurances from Washington to prevent future Russian aggression.

"For us, it is very important that there is a signal that we want legally binding security guarantees," Zelenskyy told Ukrainian journalists Saturday. "This primarily depends on President Trump."

The meeting marked the third in-person encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since the president's return to office. Also present were U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom had met with Zelenskyy earlier in the week.

"Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war," Zelenskyy wrote on social media this weekend. "For us, priority number one — or the only priority — is ending the war."

• On Sunday evening, December 28, 2025, American President Donald Trump hosted his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy for 4 hours at the Mar-a-Lago residence (Florida, U.S.).