President Donald Trump reportedly said Friday that he will ultimately decide whether any peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine moves forward, making clear that no proposal will be finalized without his approval.
In an exclusive interview with Politico, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may arrive at Mar-a-Lago this weekend with ideas and proposals, but insisted the final decision rests with him. Trump said that regardless of what Zelensky brings to the table, “he doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” adding, “So we’ll see what he’s got.”
The remarks come ahead of a highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Zelensky scheduled for Sunday at Mar-a-Lago. Zelensky has indicated that he plans to present a new 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to Politico, the proposal includes the creation of a demilitarized zone, with a key condition that Russia withdraw its forces from a corresponding stretch of land in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian officials described the plan as an effort to demonstrate flexibility while stopping short of formally conceding territory.
Trump struck an optimistic tone about the upcoming talks, telling Politico that he expects progress not only with Zelensky, but also with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I think it’s going to go good with him,” Trump said of Zelensky. “I think it’s going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin.” Trump added that he plans to speak with the Russian leader soon and suggested he is ready to engage whenever necessary.
Zelensky told reporters that he recently had what he described as a “good conversation” regarding the peace process with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as with Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Those discussions, Zelensky said, were part of ongoing diplomatic efforts tied to the broader negotiations.
Sunday’s meeting is expected to go beyond the demilitarized zone proposal and address a range of contentious issues, including long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and territorial control of the Donbas region, which Moscow has claimed.
Despite diplomatic activity, significant obstacles remain. Politico reported that Russia has shown no indication it is willing to accept anything less than full control over the Donbas region, highlighting the deep divide between the two sides. The report underscored the challenges facing negotiators as they attempt to bridge positions that remain far apart.
Trump, however, suggested that mounting economic pressure on Russia could play a decisive role. He told Politico that Russia’s economy is under severe strain. “Their economy is in tough shape, very tough shape,” Trump said, implying that financial realities may eventually push Moscow toward compromise.
The war, which began in 2022, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of military and civilian deaths on both sides, according to estimates cited in the article. Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly emphasized his confidence in his ability to broker an agreement and bring the conflict to an end. He has often referred to himself as “the peace president,” arguing that his leadership and negotiating style uniquely position him to resolve the war.
As Trump prepares to host Zelensky and engage with Putin, he is signaling that any path to peace will run through his approval, reinforcing his claim that he will be the decisive figure in determining the war’s outcome.
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