1 / 10Peace push: Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Mar-a-Lago, saying both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin want the war to end. Trump said he spoke with Putin by phone for more than an hour before the meeting and planned another call afterwards, adding that both leaders ultimately seek peace, however difficult the path appears. (Reuters photo)
2 / 10Talks open: Greeting Zelenskyy, Trump praised the Ukrainian leader’s effort and resolve. Standing beside him, Zelenskyy said territorial concessions — long considered a red line — would be discussed, noting negotiators from both sides had mapped out step-by-step ideas to move talks forward. He said discussions would continue during the meeting in Florida, aiming to bring peace closer through practical sequencing. (Reuters photo)
(Photo Credit : Apartment buildings hit during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine November 8, 2025. REUTERS/Mykola Synelnykov)
3 / 10Rising attacks: Russia intensified strikes ahead of the talks. Officials reported three guided aerial bombs hit private homes in Sloviansk, injuring three and killing one resident. A day earlier, ballistic missiles and drones battered Kyiv, killing at least one person and wounding 27 as explosions echoed for hours. Despite the escalation, Trump said he believes Putin remains serious about ending the conflict. (Reuters photo)
4 / 10Putin call: Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Trump-Putin call was initiated by Washington, lasted over an hour, and was businesslike. The leaders agreed to speak again promptly after Trump’s session with Zelenskyy. Ushakov said a bold political decision from Kyiv on Donbas and related disputes is necessary for a complete cessation of hostilities, signalling Moscow’s expectations as negotiations advance. (PTI photo)
5 / 10Trump view: Trump told reporters Ukraine had mounted strong attacks inside Russia, adding he did not view that negatively because wartime realities can demand such moves. He referenced reports of explosions in several Russian regions and, in offhand remarks, said he did not think they originated “from the Congo,” underscoring the uncertain battle dynamics as both sides continue to absorb strikes. (AP photo)
6 / 10More outreach: Trump said he would call Putin again after meeting Zelenskyy and also consult European leaders he credited for cooperation. He cautioned that the war could either end or drag on with heavy losses. The face-to-face session reflected progress by U.S. envoys exchanging draft peace plans. Zelenskyy said a 20-point proposal under discussion is about 90 percent complete. (PTI photo)
(Photo Credit : Displaced people walk after receiving food at a temporary shelter amid clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along a disputed border area, in Buriram province, Thailand, (Reuters))
7 / 10Security terms: During recent talks, U.S. officials offered Ukraine security guarantees modelled on NATO protections. Zelenskyy signalled willingness to drop his country’s NATO bid if such assurances deterred future Russian attacks. On Christmas Day, he spoke with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about substantive details, warning that sensitive issues remain unresolved and saying the coming weeks could be intensive for negotiators. (Reutersphoto)
8 / 10Long effort: Trump has worked throughout his first year back in office to end the war, acknowledging the difficulty after earlier campaign claims he could resolve it quickly. After meeting Zelenskyy at the White House in October, he urged both sides to halt fighting along the current lines. Zelenskyy later said Ukraine could withdraw from the east if Russia also pulled back and accepted demilitarised oversight. (Reuters photo)
9 / 10Kremlin demands: Putin insists territories captured in four regions, plus Crimea, be recognised as Russian and demands Ukrainian withdrawals from additional eastern areas. Kyiv rejects those conditions. Moscow also wants Ukraine to abandon its NATO bid, restrict troop deployments by allies, limit its army, and give official status to the Russian language. Ushakov said Russian security forces would remain in parts of Donetsk even under a demilitarised plan and warned that compromise may take time. (Reutersphoto)
10 / 10Ceding land: Trump has shown some openness to arguments that conceding portions of Donbas and offering Russia economic incentives could help secure peace. Ushakov said U.S. ideas accommodating Russian interests were later modified by Ukraine and European partners. With expectations tempered and core disagreements unresolved, Trump maintains that both Moscow and Kyiv want the conflict to end, even as a comprehensive settlement remains elusive. (Reutersphoto)
