No breakthrough, but with signals: results of the Trump-Zelensky meeting
29 December 06:43
The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy ended at the Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida without a significant breakthrough. The talks in Palm Beach on Sunday, December 28, lasted more than two and a half hours. This is the fourth meeting of the leaders since the beginning of the year, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Speaking about when a peace deal might be concluded, Trump said at a joint press conference: “If things go really well, maybe in a few weeks. If it goes worse, then longer. And if it goes really badly, then nothing will work.”
The American leader called the fighting in Ukraine deadly and probably the largest conflict since World War II.
Zelensky: US-Ukraine security guarantees are 100 percent agreed upon
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, expressed confidence that the 20-point peace plan has been agreed upon by 90 percent, and the US-Ukraine security guarantees – by 100 percent. The US-Europe-Ukraine security guarantees are also practically in place, the Ukrainian leader added.
According to Trump, Europe will take on a significant part of the tasks related to Kyiv’s security, but the United States is ready to provide support in this regard.
According to Zelenskyy, the teams of the two countries will meet in the coming weeks to finalize the discussion of controversial issues. European leaders and a Ukrainian delegation may arrive in Washington in January, he said.
Trump: The issue of territories in Donbas has not been resolved
The parties are still unable to reach a consensus on the issue of territories in Donbas. The head of the White House noted that Ukraine and Russia are “getting closer” to resolving their status, but the task remains difficult. “This issue is not resolved, but we are much closer to a solution. This is a very complex issue, but I think it will be resolved,” the US President emphasized.
Zelenskyy, in turn, also allowed for a referendum on certain points of Trump’s peace plan.
US President discusses Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant status with Putin
Speaking about the Zaporizhzhia NPP, the American leader clarified that he had discussed its status in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that he was “working with Ukraine to open it.” Trump also claimed that the Russian head of state was not aiming missiles at the plant. Zelenskyy did not comment on this aspect.
The head of the White House: Moscow is going to help rebuild Ukraine
According to Trump, Moscow is going to help rebuild Ukraine. “Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed,” the US president said, adding that Putin is ready to “supply electricity at very low prices.”
Conversations with European leaders and Putin
The American and Ukrainian presidents had a joint phone call with European leaders before the talks. In addition, Trump also spoke with Putin on the phone before speaking with Zelenskyy. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that the conversation took place on Trump’s initiative and lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Putin emphasized the importance of continuing to focus on the results achieved during the Anchorage summit, Ushakov said. According to him, the Russian president also agreed with Trump’s proposal to continue work on the settlement within the framework of specially created working groups, their parameters will be announced in early January.
