Trump: much progress, still one or two thorny knots. Zelensky: all aspects of peace plan discussed, new meeting in January

"We are getting closer to an agreement" on the Donbass as a free economic zone. Donald Trump said so. (ANSA).

"We had a productive joint phone call with European leaders, including Nato and the EU, and agreed that we will meet in the coming weeks to finalise the issues discussed. We agreed with Trump that he will perhaps host us in Washington - European leaders and the Ukrainian delegation - in January. Ukraine is ready for peace'. Volodymyr Zelensky said this alongside Donald Trump after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago.

"There are one or two very thorny topics in the peace talks" but "everyone wants" an end to the conflict. Donald Trump said that. "It's time to end it," he added.

A note from Palazzo Chigi reports the following: "The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, had this evening, together with other European Leaders, a telephone conversation with President Trump and President Zelensky, at the end of their meeting in Florida. The phone call allowed them to take stock of the peace process for Ukraine and the next steps towards achieving a just and lasting peace. President Trump and President Zelensky outlined the results achieved in the ongoing negotiations, with particular reference to the issue of security guarantees, and indicated the issues still open. President Meloni again recalled the importance of cohesion between partners at a time when the negotiation process is moving forward. The need to maintain maximum convergence on issues that affect the vital interests of Ukraine and its European partners was also reiterated. Finally, it was agreed that it was up to Russia to show a sense of responsibility and openness to the negotiations, showing a real willingness to achieve a cessation of hostilities'.

'A fantastic meeting with Zelensky. We are very close." Donald Trump said this during a statement with Volodymyr Zelensky at the end of their meeting.

The meeting at Mar-a-Lago is over and shortly there will be statements by Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. This was reported by sources in the Ukrainian presidency.

The conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin did not cause concern on the Ukrainian side. Rbc Ukraine writes this, citing a source in Kiev. "In general, it was clear that they would talk to Putin. And in general, this is one of the tasks now: to find out thoroughly what the Russians are ready for and whether they will destroy everything that has been achieved in diplomacy," noted the source according to whom there are currently six documents in the works between Ukraine and America and it is precisely these documents that Trump and Zelensky intend to discuss during today's meeting.

"Ten people were injured in Kherson as a result of enemy shelling". Rbc-Ukraine writes this, citing the Kherson regional prosecutor's office.

"The meeting between Trump and Zelensky with European leaders, including our Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is underway". This was said by Vice-Premier Antonio Tajani interviewed by Zona Bianca on Rete 4.

"The issue of security is crucial for us Europeans, who will certainly be part of the final negotiation because Europe has imposed sanctions on Russia and without a European decision to lift those sanctions there can be no real peace," the foreign minister further said.

Il Presidente Donald Trump incontra il Presidente ucraino Volodymyr Zelensky al club Mar-a-Lago di Trump il 28 dicembre 2025 a Palm Beach, Florida. (Foto di JOE RAEDLE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Working lunch for Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump and their respective teams in the Mar-a-Lago 'dining room'. Immortalised in a shot released to the international media, the members of the two delegations are seated opposite each other. The US team includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

Vladimir Putin is very serious about peace. Donald Trump said this, stressing that after his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky he will hear from the Russian president again. "I think we are in the final stage of the talks, and we will see. Otherwise it will go on for a long time. Either it will end or it will go on for a long time."

"I think both presidents," Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, "want to make a deal," Trump said.

A demilitarised zone along the entire front line and a deeper area interdicted to heavy artillery. Ukraine could join the EU by 2027, with 'Article 5-like' security guarantees from the US. These and other details of the negotiation package signed by the US are emerging, and the Washington Post today describes a rather nuanced overall picture. But the border compromise remains the main obstacle, notes the US newspaper, which has heard American, Ukrainian and European sources.

Despite the Trump administration's pressure tactics and 'its incomprehensible sympathy for the Russian aggressor', highlights the Post, a peace deal for Ukraine seems to be getting closer. At least the officials involved in the negotiations seem convinced of this. Negotiations on which President Donald Trump's pressure is weighing heavily: if he continues to press Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies excessively, is the reading, they could be pushed to refuse and continue fighting despite the very high costs.

Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at Mar-a-Lago for the meeting with Donald Trump. Zelensky is wearing a jacket for the occasion. The two leaders shook hands as the Ukrainian president arrived.

"In the course of today's conversation, the Russian president accepted the American side's proposal to continue working on the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis within the framework of two specially created working groups," says Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, according to Russian agencies. One of these groups will deal with 'various security aspects' while the other will focus on 'economic issues'. More information on these groups will be released in early January.

An end to hostilities in Ukraine is possible if Kiev makes a bold decision on the Donbass, in line with Russian-American agreements. This was stressed by Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov during a briefing following talks between Russian and American leaders Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Tass reports. "To permanently end (the hostilities), Kiev must, first of all, take a courageous and responsible political decision, in line with the work done through the Russian-American channel," he said.

"The presidents of Russia and the United States basically share the same view that the proposal for a temporary ceasefire put forward by the Ukrainians and the Europeans under the pretext of preparing for the referendum or with other excuses only prolongs the conflict and risks leading to a resumption of hostilities". This was stated by Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov, according to Russian agencies. Ushakov added that the phone call before the meeting with Zelensky was requested by Donald Trump.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to talk on the phone again after the US president's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. This was announced by Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov quoted by Tass. "Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump agreed to talk quickly on the phone again after the US president's meeting at Mar-a-Lago with the Ukrainian team this evening," he said.

Several people carrying Ukrainian flags are in the vicinity of Mar-a-Lago, where the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky will soon take place. This was reported by journalists accompanying the US president.

Kremlin envoy to the US Kirill Dmitriev said the phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was "good and very productive". CNN reports. Dmitriev published a post about Putin's phone call on X shortly before Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump will issue a joint statement for the Ukrainian Armed Forces before the talks, scheduled for 7pm Italian time at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. This was reported by the Ukrainian president's spokesman, Serhii Nykyforov, as quoted by Rbc Ukraine.

"I just had a constructive phone call with Vladimir Putin". Donald Trump said this on his Truth social shortly before meeting Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky will hear from European leaders by telephone during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago, scheduled for 7pm. This was reported by a spokesman for the Ukrainian presidency quoted by Sky News. Zelensky today spoke by telephone with Starmer, the British Prime Minister, with whom he discussed preparations for the meeting with President Trump. The Ukrainian president wrote this on X. The British Prime Minister had to forfeit last night's call with Zelensky, European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Oleksii Kuleba, deputy prime minister in charge of Ukraine's reconstruction, reported a 'significant increase in the number of Russian attacks against ports' in Ukraine, counting 90 attacks in 2025, twice as many as in the previous year. "The enemy tries to exert pressure every day," he noted.

Despite the bombing, port logistics continue to function to ensure the continuity of exports, which requires the presence of hundreds of workers at these sites. Under these circumstances, 'it is our duty to strengthen the protection of people and infrastructure. The safety of port workers is a top priority,' Kuleba said on Telegram.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Florida where, at 7pm Italian time, he will meet Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. This was reported by the Bloomberg news agency.

The Ukrainian Defence Forces hit the Syzran oil refinery in the Samara region of Russia. This was reported by the Ukrainian General Staff, quoted by Ukrainska Pravda. A drone impact was reportedly registered and a fire broke out at the site. According to military data, its annual processing volume is between 7 and 8.9 million tonnes of oil.

Repair work on a 'crucial' power line near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has begun 'following a new local ceasefire agreement negotiated by the IEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)'. This was announced on X by the director general of the UN nuclear security agency, Rafael Grossi. The director-general thanked both sides for agreeing to this new temporary 'window of silence' 'in order to restore the transmission of electricity between the substations of the nuclear power plant and the Zaporizhzhia thermal power plant, thereby strengthening nuclear safety'.

Operators of the first separate unmanned systems centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck several Russian military facilities in occupied Crimea, in particular a base for storing and launching unmanned military vessels. As Ukrinform reports, the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert 'Magyar' Brovdy, reported the news on Facebook and posted a video. In the village of Chornomorskoye, the Valdai radar station and the control point of the radar reconnaissance complex were hit. In addition, the base for stowing and launching unmanned military vessels in Chornomorske was damaged.

Last night, the Russians attacked with 48 drones, about 30 of them Shaheed. The Ukrainian Air Force reports having shot down and eliminated 30 of them. Ukrainska Pravda reports. The Russians attacked two districts in the Dnipropetrovsk region, damaging houses, an educational institution, a farm and a gas pipeline. As the acting head of the Dnipropetrovsk Ova Vladislav Haivanenko reports on social networks 'at night, Russian troops continued to terrorise the Nikopol region. The centre of the district was hit by heavy artillery. Five apartment blocks and an educational institution were damaged'. In addition, Russian drones attacked the community of Vasylkivska in the Sinelnyky district. Two private homes and a farm were damaged. A gas pipeline was also hit. There are reportedly no fatalities or injuries.

Today, the Russian army launched a massive attack on Kherson. Fires broke out in the city and some areas are currently without electricity. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine citing the Telegram of the director of the Kherson MBA, Yaroslav Shanko. "Russian terrorists have again launched a massive attack on the city with MLRS missiles. Residential areas and critical infrastructure were enveloped in flames.... As a result of the attack, part of the city was left without electricity,' the Telegram post reads. It is still unclear if there are any casualties

The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago was brought forward to 7pm Italian time (1pm in Florida), instead of 9pm as originally scheduled.

In Odessa more than 100 windows of seven residential buildings and three social institutions were damaged following an evening attack by Russian military personnel. This was announced on Telegram by the director of the military administration in Odessa, Serhiy Lysak, as reported by Ukrinform. "As a result of the evening enemy attack, more than 100 windows in 7 residential buildings and 3 social facilities were damaged. Utility workers have already temporarily closed the openings with films,' the post reads. By 8 a.m. local time, 14 people had contacted the operations centre for help. The area adjacent to the damaged houses has been cleared.

"The corruption scandals in Ukraine are of course noticed in Brussels and other European capitals, but these scandals do not prevent the continued use of the regime" in Kiev "as a military battering ram against Russia. So, in this particular case, the 'eyes of the West' are, so to speak, tightly closed." Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this in an interview with the Tass news agency. And then: 'To the less circumspect European politicians, to whom I hope this interview will be shown, I repeat once again: there is no reason to fear that Russia will attack anyone'. Lavrov added at the same time, however, that 'if someone decided to attack Russia, the response would be devastating'.

The European 'war party' is ready to go all the way with its anti-Russian ideas. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Tass. "It is difficult to say whether leaders like Ursula von der Leyen, Merz, Starmer, Macron and others have reached a point of no return. What we see is that so far the European war party has invested its political capital in inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and is ready to go all the way," the Russian minister said.