In a late-night address, journalist Vitaly Portnikov summed up the key points from the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago. The meeting lasted over 2.5 hours, followed by phone consultations with European leaders, the NATO Secretary General, and the President of the European Commission.
As a result of the talks, it became evident that despite initial optimism, no concrete details were announced. The majority of issues appear to be agreed upon, but crucial points—especially territorial compromises regarding Donbas—remain unresolved and strongly depend on Russia's position. The US, and Trump personally, are urging Ukraine to act quickly, warning of further territorial losses. In terms of security guarantees, Europe’s leading role was emphasized—raising doubts about their effectiveness in light of ongoing Russian aggression.
Zelensky did not specify the mechanisms for determining Ukraine’s territorial integrity—whether it would be decided by a referendum or parliament approval. The establishment of new working groups was highlighted, which will include high-level US officials and be subject to parliamentary oversight, adding transparency and legitimacy to the process.
Trump stressed his desire to see a successful Ukraine, including in the energy sector, but no clear settlements were announced for the de-occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Discussions took place amid active fighting and continued Russian occupation of critical infrastructure.
European leaders’ reactions after speaking with Trump were cautiously positive, reaffirming transatlantic unity. However, no new pressure instruments on Russia or breakthroughs in peace plans were announced. Next steps will depend on the Kremlin’s stance and the results of the upcoming round of talks, possibly including further Trump-Putin discussions.
The expert concludes: the meeting yielded no concrete outcomes, but there is a noticeable easing of US pressure on Ukraine and continued work expected from the established government working groups. Euro-Atlantic coordination and sanctions remain the primary levers of pressure on Russia, while the end of the war depends entirely on Moscow's policies.
