Trump and Zelensky Claim 90% Deal, But One Explosive Issue Remains Unresolved
Trump and Zelensky Claim 90% Deal on Donbass — But One Explosive Issue Remains Unresolved
Mar-a-Lago, Florida — In a rare moment of high-stakes diplomacy under the Florida sun, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced they are on the brink of a historic breakthrough, with 90% agreement reached on a sweeping 20-point peace plan and 100% alignment on U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees.
But beneath the optimism, one question looms large: What happens to Donbass?
Speaking after their closed-door meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, Zelensky expressed deep gratitude for what he called “excellent discussions” and hailed the “meaningful progress” made by American and Ukrainian teams over recent weeks. He singled out key figures like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and General Khnatov, for their relentless work.
“The United States, Europe, and Ukraine are close to finalizing security assurances,” Zelensky confirmed. “And yes, we agree—security is the cornerstone of lasting peace.”
Trump, echoing the sentiment, told reporters the talks had been “very productive,” though he remained characteristically cautious on specifics. When asked about the exact status of the deal, he offered: “You could say 95%. I don’t like to talk percentages—but we’re very close.”
Yet when pressed on the most volatile sticking point, the future status of Donbass—both leaders admitted the issue remains unresolved.
“The word ‘concessions’ is too strong,” Trump said carefully. “We haven’t reached an agreement yet, but we’re closer than ever. It’s a big question… but I think it will be resolved.”
Zelensky, standing beside him, reaffirmed Ukraine’s red lines: “Our position is crystal clear. We respect the law. We respect the territory we control. This is not the land of one man, it’s the land of our people for generations.”
While neither side confirmed plans for a referendum, Zelensky emphasized that any final peace plan would ultimately be decided by the Ukrainian people, either through parliament or a national vote, especially if the terms prove “very difficult for our society.”
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Trump added that polls show 91% of Ukrainians want the war to end. “Russia wants it to end. Ukraine wants it to end. We want it to end,” he said. “I don’t want to see more people die. This is the deadliest conflict since World War II.”
The two leaders also announced plans for a major follow-up summit in Washington in January, likely including European allies, NATO, and EU representatives, to finalize six key documents currently under negotiation.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Trump revealed that discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following their nearly two-and-a-half-hour phone call—have opened unexpected channels. “He wants this to happen,” Trump insisted. “He told me very firmly.”
They even addressed the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which Trump described as “in very good condition” and “ready to operate almost immediately.” He claimed Putin has no intention of attacking it and is cooperating with Ukraine on its safe restart—a claim Zelensky did not dispute.
A new U.S.-Ukraine-Russia working group is now being formed, with Witkoff, Kushner, Senator Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth on the American side, coordinating directly with Ukrainian officials and—critically—with Russian counterparts.
Still, Trump warned that failure remains possible. “If everything goes very badly, it won’t happen,” he said bluntly. “And that would be terrible.”
With weeks—not months—now seen as the window for success, the world watches: Can Trump broker what no one else has? Or will Donbass once again become the graveyard of peace hopes?
One thing is certain: both leaders say they’ve never been closer. But in war and diplomacy, close is rarely enough.
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