Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on Sunday, hoping to forge a plan to end the war in Ukraine
But Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before the meeting suggests obstacles to peace remain.
Zelenskyy has said he hopes to soften a US proposal for Ukrainian forces to withdraw completely from the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, a Russian demand that would mean ceding some territory held by Ukrainian forces.
Just before Zelenskyy and his delegation arrived at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, the US and Russian presidents spoke in a call described as “productive” by Trump and “friendly” by Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
Ushakov, in Moscow, said Putin told Trump a 60-day ceasefire proposed by the European Union and Ukraine would prolong the war. The Kremlin aide also said Ukraine needs to make a quick decision about land in the Donbas.
Talks follow air raids on Kyiv
Zelenskyy arrived at Mar-a-Lago early on Sunday afternoon, as Russian air raids pile pressure on Kyiv.
Russia hit the capital and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, knocking out power and heat in parts of Kyiv.
Zelenskyy has described the weekend attacks as Russia’s response to the US-brokered peace efforts, but Trump on Sunday said he believes Putin and Zelenskyy are serious about peace.
“I do think we have the makings of a deal,” Trump said.
“We have two willing countries. We are in the final stages of talking.”
Zelenskyy had previously told journalists he plans to discuss the fate of the contested Donbas region with Trump, as well as the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and other topics.
Russia claims more battlefield advances
Russia has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine yield all of the Donbas, even areas still under Ukraine’s control.
Ukraine wants the map frozen at the current front lines.
Russian officials have objected to other parts of the latest proposal, sparking doubts about whether Putin would accept whatever Sunday’s talks might produce.
Putin said on Saturday that he would continue waging the war if Ukraine did not seek a quick peace. Russia has steadily advanced on the battlefield in recent months, claiming control over several more settlements on Sunday.
