A meeting at Mar-a-Lago on December 28 between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy achieved a rhetorical breakthrough—but left unresolved the questions on which any real ceasefire depends.
What has been agreed—and where Washington and Kyiv differ
After the meeting, Zelenskyy announced "outstanding achievements": a 20-point peace plan has been agreed 90%, security guarantees between the US and Ukraine—100%, the military dimension—also 100%. Trump assessed the same agreements more cautiously, saying only that negotiations have advanced and the sides are "maybe, very close" to a deal.
"We have a 20-point peace plan, 90% agreed, and US-Ukraine security guarantees, 100% agreed"
President Zelenskyy after the Mar-a-Lago meeting, December 28, 2025
Two points of the plan remain open. According to Kyiv Independent, these are point 12 (control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant) and point 14 (status of Donbas). This is where the biggest gap lies: Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw troops from the entire region, while Zelenskyy proposes a "demilitarized zone." The agreement also contains no mention whatsoever of Ukraine's NATO membership.
Control mechanism: exists, but narrowly defined
The 20-point plan that Zelenskyy unveiled on December 24 envisages monitoring the line of contact using satellite unmanned observation and early detection of violations. The plan provides for sanctions for breaches of the agreement. However, the mechanism does not resolve the question of sovereignty over disputed territories—the document proposes only a "working group" for further agreement on parameters.
Putin—willing to talk, but not to concede
Before meeting Zelenskyy, Trump had a telephone conversation with Putin, calling it "good and very productive." But according to ABC News, the most pressing issues—in particular territorial ones—remained unresolved. Trump again rejected the idea of an immediate ceasefire as a precondition for negotiations, expressing understanding of Putin's position: first a complete agreement, then a halt to hostilities. Meanwhile, the Kremlin continues to increase pressure in Donbas and, according to Putin, expects to establish control over all four occupied regions.
- Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all of Donbas
- Putin rejects the idea of a ceasefire without a full agreement—and has made no public concessions
- A Kremlin adviser praised Trump's "peacemaking efforts"—not the agreement itself
- Zelenskyy allows for a referendum on the plan if Russia agrees to a ceasefire for at least 60 days
Declaration or framework?
"100% agreed" security guarantees between the US and Ukraine—this is an achievement that Kyiv has sought for years. But guarantees without an enforcement mechanism are commitments on paper. Neither Trump nor Zelenskyy has explained what will happen if Russia violates the future agreement—and who exactly will guarantee a response.
If Moscow does not make any move toward negotiations over the coming weeks—neither on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant nor on Donbas—it will become clear: December's diplomatic activity was a PR success for Trump and a tactical pause for Putin.
