President Trump has lauded Mar-a-Lago talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, saying a peace agreement is significantly closer.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters an agreement is “very close”, but Mr Trump conceded one or two “thorny issues” are yet to be ironed out.
Future ownership of the Donbas region remains a significant sticking point with Ukraine still fighting to protect its territory.
“This is a very difficult question”, Zelensky said when asked about the topic.
Mr Trump met Mr Zelensky on the doorstep of Mar-a-Lago
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“You know our position, so we have to respect our law and our people. We respect the territory which we control. And of course, our attitude is very clear.”
Mr Trump added it “may be up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period.
“They have been very brave. They fought very hard and continue to fight very hard and do tremendous damage, but Russia would like to see it end, and Ukraine would like to see it end.”
Earlier today, Mr Zelensky arrived at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence ahead of crunch talks about the potential peace deal.
Mr Trump insists Putin is also keen to end the war
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REUTERSMr Trump revealed he has held talks with Vladimir Putin earlier today and he feels optimistic about the prospect of a deal.
Speaking to reporters outside his Florida residence, Mr Trump refused to give a deadline.
“I don’t have deadlines. My deadline is having the war ended”, he asserted.
“There will be a security agreement, there will be a strong agreement.
The pair sat down with top US officials
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“The European nations are very much involved. The European nations have been really great. They are very much in line with this meeting and getting a deal done.
“They are all terrific people. I think you can say that, there is nobody bad.
“They all want to get it done and they have been very supportive.”
According to the US President, his Russian counterpart is “very serious” about ending the bloody conflict that has lasted nearly four years.
“I’m also calling President Putin back after the meeting, and we’ll continue with negotiations.”
The Ukrainian president has also spoke to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about a draft agreement which includes a US commitment to provide guarantees mirroring the Nato alliance’s Article 5.
This means an attack on Ukraine would trigger a collective military response from the US and its allies.
Key details are still being ironed out such as territorial concessions, which are proving the most sensitive of the issues.
On Christmas Eve, Mr Zelensky said the US and Ukraine had reached a consensus on a number of critical issues.
He also suggested he was open to creating a demilitarised zone on his country’s eastern border with Russia.
Mr Zelensky has continue to resist Russian demands that Ukraine hands over two of its key regions, Luhansk and Donetsk.
Russia also remains steadfast in its insistence that Nato forces do not have a role in monitoring a ceasefire.
Mr Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are among many to have insist this must form part of any deal.
Other European demands include allowing Ukraine to maintain a peacetime military of 800,000 troops and to join the EU, while the US is said to have offered unspecified military guarantees.
