An agreement appears ever closer and "if things go well, it could be reached within a few weeks." Donald Trump appears optimistic next to Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of their meeting, preceded by a long and "very constructive" phone call with Vladimir Putin. The two leaders say they are 90-95% in agreement, although two key issues remain unresolved: security guarantees for Ukraine and the fate of Donbass, which remains "a difficult issue. We have different positions with Russia," Zelensky reiterated. "I wouldn't say we have agreement on this point, but we're getting closer . It's a big issue, but we're closer than we probably were. We're moving in the right direction," the American president explained in response to those who asked if there was an agreement on Donbass as a free trade zone.

Another unresolved issue, besides the territories, is a possible truce: "We're working on it, I understand Vladimir Putin on this point," the tycoon observed. During the phone call with the tsar that preceded the bilateral meeting with Zelensky, Washington and Moscow—the Kremlin reported—agreed that a truce would only prolong hostilities. Another unresolved issue is the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant : Trump and Putin discussed it, and the Kremlin leader "is working with Ukraine to get it opened. He's good at that," the American president emphasized, after noting that Putin is "very serious" about seeking peace. Both Zelensky and the tsar "want an agreement" and that "the elements exist to reach it. We are in the final stages of talks. Either the war will end or it will go on for a long time ," was the tycoon's analysis. For now, however, a three-way meeting seems unlikely : "It will happen at the right time," Trump noted, adding that Russia will "help" with Ukraine's reconstruction. "They want it to be successful," the tycoon explained. During the face-to-face meeting with Zelensky, Trump also connected with European leaders. Europe will play a role in providing security guarantees for Kiev: "There will be a security agreement. It will be a solid agreement. European nations are involved in this," Trump emphasized, without however going into detail.

Trump and Zelensky presented the results achieved in the ongoing negotiations to European leaders and highlighted the remaining open issues. According to Zelensky, the president raised the possibility of hosting them at the White House next month. Speaking during the call, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized the importance of cohesion between partners at a time when the negotiation process is making progress and reiterated the need to maintain maximum convergence on issues affecting the vital interests of Ukraine and its European partners . "Significant progress has been made, which we welcome. Europe stands ready to continue working with Ukraine and our US partners to consolidate this progress. Crucial to this effort is having unwavering security guarantees from day one," commented European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen .

For Zelensky, the visit to Mar-a-Lago—his first, having met Trump seven times this year—was a crucial test. The Ukrainian president arrived wearing a suit and appeared calm alongside Trump, despite the two men's uneasy relations, especially after their clash in the Oval Office in February. This time, however, the tone was different: the American president praised him and called him courageous. Zelensky approached Trump by raising the possibility of a referendum on the peace plan, an opening considered significant as it shows that the Ukrainian president no longer rules out territorial concessions . He also expressed his willingness, should an agreement be reached, to hold the first elections since 2019—a request from Moscow supported by Trump—as long as security is guaranteed. These openings seem to have been appreciated by the American president. The tycoon has not ruled out traveling to Ukraine or speaking directly to the Kiev parliament about the plan to end the war. It's still unclear whether the 20-point plan developed by Kiev and Washington will ultimately receive Moscow's green light: many continue to doubt the Kremlin's genuine interest in ending the war, as demonstrated by the relentless attacks in Ukraine. But after the progress made between Trump and Zelensky, the ball is now in Putin's court.

(Unioneonline)

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