Trump says progress made in Ukraine talks but obstacles remain
發佈日期: 2025-12-29 22:13
TVB News
US President Donald Trump said Ukraine and Russia are closer than ever before to a peace deal as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Florida resort.
But he said talks are complex and could still break down, adding he had an excellent two-and-a-half hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the Ukraine meeting.
A more informal setting for talks on trying to end a nearly four-year war that has costs tens of thousands of lives.
US President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The two leaders stood on the steps of the building after Trump had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than two hours.
Trump wants peace to end the deaths, and, being a businessman, reap the economic rewards.
"And there are great economic benefits for Ukraine, also," said Trump. "Because, you know, there's a lot of rebuilding to do, there's lot of wealth to be had."
Trump was also asked if Putin is serious about peace given Russia's continued drone and missiles strikes on Ukraine.
"No, he's very serious," replied Trump. "I think, you know, I can say that I believe Ukraine has made some very strong attacks also. And I don't say that negatively, I think you probably have to."
Zelenskyy was asked if he would accept land concessions.
"We will speak about 20 points plan," said Zelenskyy. "There are, they are in 20 points plans, 90 percent, by the way. was done by our two teams."
They then entered the resort. The two delegations then sat down for talks, in a room boasting a more lush setting than usual.
"Yeah, the media has never seen this room. It's very conducive to deals."
After the meeting, both leaders said progress has been made, they are closer than ever to peace but it was the same issue of territory in the Donbas and elsewhere that is keeping the two sides apart.
"Well, I think the land you're talking about, some of that land has been taken," Trump said at a post-meeting briefing. "Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months. And you're better off making a deal now."
Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign affairs advisor, spoke about the Trump-Putin phonecall, saying Kyiv must make a bold decision on the Donbas and urged Ukraine to move forward without delay.
Meanwhile, in Mariupol, which Russia captured early in the war, a historic theatre re-opened its doors for the first time in more than three years.
The theatre was badly damaged during a deadly air strike in 2022. Ukraine said hundreds of people sheltering in the theatre were killed when it was bombed by Russian forces, an accusation Moscow denies.
