🕊️ A New Year, A New Peace: Zelensky and Trump Prepare for Mar-a-Lago Summit

🕊️ A New Year, A New Peace: Zelensky and Trump Prepare for Mar-a-Lago Summit

As the world celebrates the final days of 2025, the focus of the international community has shifted abruptly from holiday festivities to the sunny shores of Palm Beach, Florida. On Sunday, December 28, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago residence.¹

This meeting is not merely a diplomatic courtesy; it represents the most significant push for peace since the full-scale Russian invasion began nearly four years ago.² With a 20-point peace framework currently sitting at "90% completion," the stakes could not be higher.³ If successful, this summit could provide the roadmap for a cessation of hostilities in early 2026.

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The Evolution of the Deal: From 28 to 20 Points

The path to this Sunday’s meeting has been grueling. Throughout November and early December, negotiators from Washington, Kyiv, and various European capitals worked through a draft known as the "28-point plan."⁴ However, that initial version faced stiff resistance from Kyiv and its European allies, who argued it leaned too heavily toward Russian interests—effectively demanding a total capitulation.⁵

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, that plan was aggressively retooled.⁶ Following intense consultations with Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Zelensky announced on December 26 that the document had been slimmed down to a 20-point framework.⁷

"We are not losing a single day," Zelensky posted on X. "We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level...⁸ A lot can be decided before the new year."

📋 The Core Pillars of the 20-Point Plan

While the full text remains classified, leaked details and official statements from both the White House and the Bankova (the Ukrainian presidential office) outline a strategy built on three main pillars: Security, Territory, and Prosperity.

1. The Security "Mirror"

The most contentious issue has always been Ukraine’s aspiration for NATO membership.⁹ Under the new plan:

• Ukraine will not legally renounce its bid to join NATO (a major win for Zelensky compared to earlier drafts).¹⁰

• However, the U.S. and a "coalition of the willing" (approximately 30 countries) would provide security guarantees that "mirror" NATO’s Article 5.¹¹

• This effectively offers Ukraine the protection of the alliance without formal membership, satisfying Trump’s desire to avoid NATO expansion while ensuring Kyiv is not left vulnerable to a future invasion.

2. The Territorial "Freezes" and DMZs

The plan acknowledges the "de facto" reality of the front line without requiring Ukraine to "de jure" (legally) cede land to Russia.¹²

• The Freeze: The current front line would be frozen as a line of contact.¹³

• The Donbas Compromise: Ukraine has signaled a willingness to withdraw troops from parts of the Donetsk region it still controls, provided Russia makes a reciprocal pullback.¹⁴

• Demilitarized Zones (DMZs): These areas would become "Free Economic Zones" or demilitarized buffers overseen by international monitors.¹⁵

• Zaporizhzhia: A specific DMZ is proposed for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest, to ensure global nuclear safety regardless of who holds the surrounding territory.¹⁶

3. The Roadmap for Prosperity

This is often referred to as the "Trumpian" part of the deal. It focuses on the reconstruction of Ukraine as a business opportunity.

• The Ukraine Development Fund: A multi-billion dollar investment vehicle focused on tech, AI, and data centers.¹⁷

• Energy Cooperation: A joint U.S.-Ukraine effort to modernize gas infrastructure and pipelines.¹⁸

• The "Compensation" Clause: In some versions of the plan, the U.S. would receive partial compensation for its security guarantees through future trade agreements and resource extraction rights.

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Key Players in the Florida Talks

The upcoming summit is the culmination of a "24/7" diplomatic marathon.¹⁹ The table at Mar-a-Lago will likely include:

Official	Role	Strategic Focus
Donald Trump	U.S. President	Closing "The Deal"; reducing U.S. military expenditures.
Volodymyr Zelensky	Ukraine President	Ensuring sovereignty; securing "Ironclad" safety guarantees.
Jared Kushner	Special Envoy	Private-sector investment and reconstruction logistics.
Steve Witkoff	Special Envoy	Direct communication with Kremlin intermediaries.
Rustem Umerov	Ukraine Negotiator	Military limitations and troop withdrawal parameters.

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The "Approval" Hurdle: Trump’s Negotiating Style

Despite Zelensky’s optimism that the plan is "90% ready," President Trump has maintained a characteristic air of authority. In an interview with Politico on Friday, Trump reminded the world that the final signature is his alone to give.²⁰

"He [Zelensky] doesn't have anything until I approve it," Trump said.²¹ "I think it’s going to go good with him. I think it’s going to go good with Putin."

This rhetoric suggests that the Sunday meeting is not a simple signing ceremony, but a final "closing" session where Zelensky may be asked for further concessions—perhaps regarding the specific size of the Ukrainian military, which Trump has previously suggested should be capped at 600,000 to 800,000 personnel.

The Democratic Safeguard: The Referendum

One of the most important aspects of Zelensky’s strategy is his insistence on a national referendum.²² Because the Ukrainian constitution prohibits the surrender of territory, any deal involving troop pullbacks or "Free Economic Zones" in occupied land would technically require the consent of the Ukrainian people.²³

Zelensky has stated that if a "sensitive" territorial agreement is reached, he will put it to a vote.²⁴ He argues that the U.S. and its partners have "enough power" to pressure Russia into providing the safety necessary for such a vote to occur fairly.²⁵ This move serves two purposes:

1. It protects Zelensky from domestic accusations of "selling out."

2. It places the moral weight of the decision on the citizens who have lived through the war.

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What to Expect on Sunday

The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET.²⁶ While a full peace treaty is unlikely to be signed in a single afternoon, analysts expect a Joint Statement of Intent to be released. This would signal to the Kremlin that Washington and Kyiv are now "aligned," putting the ball in Vladimir Putin’s court.

For Russia, the choice is becoming increasingly stark. If they reject a plan that has the full backing of the Trump administration, they risk a massive surge in U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine and the imposition of "ultimate" sanctions.²⁷ As Zelensky noted, "Moscow cannot tell President Trump: 'Look, we are against a peaceful settlement.'"

The Final Stretch

This Christmas week has been one of the most hopeful, yet tense, periods of the entire conflict. From the front lines in the Donbas to the boardrooms in Florida, the world is waiting to see if two of the world's most scrutinized leaders can find a way to end Europe’s bloodiest war in 80 years.

The "90% ready" plan is a testament to the exhaustion of both sides and the shifting political winds in Washington. Whether that final 10% can be bridged at Mar-a-Lago remains to be seen.