Despite demonstrating optimism about the progress of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, acknowledged this Sunday (28) that the process remains subject to impasses capable of interrupting the talks. The assessment was made after a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, held in Florida.
In a press conference held after around three hours of conversations, Trump stated that negotiations had progressed, but avoided pointing out deadlines or detailing concessions. “We are getting closer, maybe too close,” he said. He then considered that the outcome is not yet guaranteed. “Something unexpected could come up, something that no one was considering, and that could disrupt everything,” he said.
The president classified the process as difficult and highlighted that only in the coming weeks will it be possible to know whether there will be an agreement. “In a few weeks, we will know one way or another”, he said, commenting on the current stage of the negotiations.
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Among the main obstacles mentioned is the territorial issue. Trump acknowledged that the future of the Donbas region, in eastern Ukraine, remains one of the most sensitive points in the negotiation. “Certainly this is one of the big themes, and we are closer to an understanding”, he stated, without going into details.
Zelensky reinforced that any decision on territory will need to respect Ukrainian legislation and the will of the population. “We have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory we control,” he said. According to him, definitions of this type may undergo popular consultation. “We can have a referendum on any point in this plan. Society needs to choose, because this land does not belong to one person, but to our nation”, he stated.
The Ukrainian president also declared that around 90% of a broader peace plan has already reached some level of consensus. According to him, there is complete agreement with the United States regarding security guarantees and military aspects. “We agree that security guarantees are a fundamental framework for achieving lasting peace,” he said.
Trump also highlighted that an eventual agreement will depend on the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom . According to him, new contacts should occur soon. “We spoke today and we must speak again,” he said. Teams from the United States, Ukraine and European countries will continue to meet in the coming weeks.
During the press conference, Trump once again mentioned the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 American elections, classifying the episode as a “hoax”. “We went through the ‘Russia, Russia, Russia hoax’ together,” he said, commenting on his relationship with Putin. The president suggested that this experience contributed to maintaining a direct channel of dialogue between the two.
Asked about the possibility of traveling to Ukraine to help unlock negotiations, Trump said he did not rule out the possibility, although he considered it unlikely. “I have no problem going, but I would prefer to close the deal without having to travel,” he said. Zelensky responded that the visit would be welcome.
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The statements came at a time of recent intensification of the conflict. Days before the meeting, Russia carried out an attack on Kiev, leaving people dead, dozens injured and interruptions in the supply of residential heating amid sub-zero temperatures.
At the end of the press conference, both adopted a cautious tone. Trump reiterated that he believes in a close agreement, but warned that the process could fail due to obstacles that have not yet been resolved. Zelensky thanked the United States for its role in mediation and reaffirmed that security guarantees remain a central condition for any lasting solution.
