Trump says Russia-Ukraine peace talks are in 'final stages' at Mar-a-Lago meeting

US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have entered their "final stages," as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Speaking to reporters, Trump framed the situation starkly, stating, "It'll either end or it's going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed."

Trump's Assessment and Approach

Asserting his experience in conflict resolution by noting he had "settled eight wars so far," Trump acknowledged the Ukraine conflict as "the most difficult one" but expressed confidence it could be resolved. He dismissed the notion of a rigid deadline, stating, "My deadline is ending the war." The president revealed he plans to call Russian President Vladimir Putin again following the Zelenskyy meeting to continue talks, after having already held what he described as a "good and very productive" call with the Russian leader earlier that day.

Security Guarantees and European Role

Trump indicated that any resulting settlement would include a "strong" security agreement, with European nations playing a major role in future protection arrangements for Ukraine. "The European nations have been really great. They're very much in line with this meeting and getting a deal done," he said. Zelenskyy noted that lower-level talks over the past month had advanced negotiations and that he would discuss a 20-point peace plan with Trump. The leaders later held a closed-door lunch, accompanied by key aides including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Context and Broader Implications

Zelenskyy's visit to Mar-a-Lago followed a stop in Canada and comes amid a significant shift in US policy under Trump, who halted major military aid to Kyiv and has blamed both Ukrainian and previous US leadership for prolonging the war. The meeting signals a potential pivot toward a negotiated settlement, though its terms remain unclear. As a nation that has consistently advocated for a peaceful resolution respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Türkiye closely monitors these developments, hopeful that genuine diplomacy can prevail to end the bloodshed and restore stability in the Black Sea region.