U.S. and Ukrainian leaders say talks narrowed gaps on security and territory, but a final deal awaits resolution of guarantees, land control and nuclear.
U.S. President Donald Trump said progress has been made toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though he cautioned that several difficult issues remain unresolved, including territory and long-term security guarantees.
Speaking after the discussions, Trump said negotiators were “getting a lot closer, maybe very close” to a peace framework, signaling cautious optimism after months of diplomatic deadlock. Zelenskyy echoed that view, saying a proposed 20-point peace plan was “about 90% agreed,” while stressing that the remaining gaps were among the most sensitive.
At the center of the talks is the question of security guarantees for Ukraine. U.S. officials have proposed a 15-year security commitment aimed at deterring future aggression, according to people familiar with the discussions. Zelenskyy, however, is pushing for guarantees lasting up to 50 years, arguing that only long-term assurances can provide lasting stability for Ukraine and the wider region.
Territorial issues remain another major obstacle. The status of eastern Ukraine, particularly the Donbas region currently under Russian control, has not been resolved. Ukrainian officials have resisted any arrangement that could be seen as formalizing territorial losses, while negotiators acknowledge the issue will require further compromise or phased solutions.
Read Also: Zelenskiy Trump Meeting Could Shape Ukraine Peace Talks
Control of critical infrastructure is also under debate. One proposal under discussion would place the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, under some form of shared or internationally supervised management to reduce security risks and ensure continued operations. No final agreement has been reached on that point.
Both sides said working-level teams will meet again next week to refine the remaining elements of the deal and attempt to bridge the most contentious gaps. U.S. officials described the upcoming talks as decisive, though they cautioned that setbacks remain possible.
European leaders welcomed signs of movement. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said any agreement must include “ironclad” security guarantees for Ukraine, warning that a weak settlement could invite future conflict. Several European governments have been closely involved in parallel consultations with Washington and Kyiv.
For a global audience, the talks carry significant implications. The war has reshaped European security, disrupted energy and food markets, and intensified geopolitical competition between major powers. Any agreement would mark the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the conflict began.
Despite the upbeat tone, Trump acknowledged the difficulty ahead, describing the remaining disputes as “thorny.” Still, both Washington and Kyiv signaled that momentum is building, raising cautious hopes that a negotiated end to the war may be within reach if the final hurdles can be cleared.