Trump and Zelensky Conclude Mar‑a‑Lago Talks With No Breakthrough, 90% Plan Agreement
Updated (2 articles)
90% of Plan Agreed, Remaining 10% Focused on Nuclear Plant and Land The revised peace terms were reported as roughly ninety percent settled before the Mar‑a‑Lago session, leaving a ten‑percent gap centered on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility and specific land‑concession clauses [1][2]. Both leaders said the outstanding issues would require additional weeks of diplomatic work before any formal accord could be signed [1][2]. The nuclear plant question involves security guarantees and de‑escalation measures, while land talks pertain to territories in the Donbas region [1][2].
Three‑Hour Session Produced No Immediate Breakthrough The meeting lasted more than three hours, after which Trump and Zelensky acknowledged progress but confirmed that no decisive agreement emerged [1][2]. Reporters were escorted from the room, underscoring the private and sensitive nature of the discussions [2]. Both parties emphasized that the negotiations remain intricate and will extend over several weeks, rejecting any notion of a rapid deadline [1][2].
Trump’s Hour‑Long Call With Putin Preceded the Talks Immediately before the Florida talks, Trump spent over an hour on a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing it as productive and influential on the peace process [1][2]. Putin did not travel to Mar‑a‑Lago, yet his diplomatic weight was noted as shaping the backdrop of the negotiations [1]. Trump indicated he would speak with Putin again after the meeting, signaling ongoing coordination between the two leaders [1].
Shift From 28‑Point to 20‑Point Framework Highlights Territorial Negotiations Zelensky introduced a new twenty‑point proposal intended to replace the earlier twenty‑eight‑point outline, aiming to secure security guarantees and clarify the status of Donbas territories [2][1]. Trump’s evolving stance now entertains the possibility of land concessions, contrasting his earlier suggestion that Ukraine cede territory outright [2][1]. The discussion also covered whether Ukraine could eventually reclaim all occupied lands, reflecting a fluid negotiation landscape [2].
Sources
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1.
CNN: Trump-Zelensky talks at Mar-a-Lago yield no breakthrough, keep peace plan negotiations alive: Details a three‑hour meeting with 90% agreement, remaining nuclear‑plant and land issues, and notes Trump’s prior hour‑long call with Putin influencing the dialogue.
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2.
Newsweek: Trump-Zelensky meeting underway after Putin call at Mar-a-Lago: Describes the start of talks, reporters removed, Putin call described as productive, evolution from a 28‑point to a 20‑point plan, and focus on Donbas and security guarantees.
Timeline
Dec 2025 – Trump’s peace‑plan stance evolves, shifting from earlier suggestions that Ukraine cede territory to a proposal that Ukraine could retake all of its land, reflecting ongoing testing of negotiation boundaries[2].
Dec 28, 2025 – Trump and Zelensky begin a high‑profile meeting at Mar‑a‑Lago, moving reporters out of the room as both leaders express a desire to end the war and Trump stresses “there is no deadline for reaching a deal”[2].
Dec 28, 2025 – Prior to the meeting, Trump reports a “good and very productive telephone call” with Vladimir Putin, framing the call as shaping perspectives on the peace process[2].
Dec 28, 2025 – Zelensky says the talks will address security guarantees for Ukraine and discuss a “new 20‑point plan” to replace the earlier 28‑point framework, warning that nothing may be finalized that day[2].
Dec 28, 2025 – The parties negotiate the fate of Donbas, with Russia insisting on keeping control of parts of the region while Ukraine seeks assurances; Russia currently controls most of Luhansk and about 70 % of Donetsk[2].
Dec 29, 2025 – After more than three hours of talks, Trump and Zelensky emerge with “no major breakthrough,” describing the process as complex and ongoing, and noting that weeks will be needed to clarify whether a deal is possible[1].
Dec 29, 2025 – Zelensky states that “90 % of terms were agreed” heading into the meeting, with negotiations now focusing on the remaining issues, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and land concessions[1].
Dec 29, 2025 – Trump suggests that “negotiations over land could occur now,” targeting the unresolved 10 % tied to the nuclear plant’s fate and land‑concession questions[1].
Dec 29, 2025 – Trump announces he will speak with Putin again after the Mar‑a‑Lago meeting, continuing the diplomatic outreach that began with the earlier call[1].
Late 2025 – early 2026 – The parties indicate that peace‑plan negotiations remain alive and will continue over the coming weeks, with both sides working toward a possible agreement despite the lack of an immediate breakthrough[1].