Trump Optimistic on Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal, Hails Progress in Mar-a-Lago Talks

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that a peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is nearing completion, following a joint meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. Trump described the talks as 'terrific' and said the agreement is 'a lot closer,' but acknowledged that several key issues remain unresolved, including the fate of the eastern Donbas region. The two leaders held a joint press conference, during which Trump revealed that the talks have made significant progress, with security guarantees 'close to 95%.' However, he declined to provide a firm timeline for the resolution, saying that 'in a few weeks, we will know one way or the other.' Zelensky thanked Trump for hosting the talks and emphasized the importance of security guarantees in achieving lasting peace. He announced that European and Ukrainian teams will continue working on the matter and will meet in upcoming weeks to finalize the discussed issues. Trump also invited the European and Ukrainian teams to meet in the US in January for further talks. The joint statement comes after Trump spoke with a group of European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump has expressed optimism that a deal can be reached, despite the complexity of the issues at hand. 'You're better off making a deal now,' he said, praising Ukraine's bravery and resilience in the face of the conflict.