US President Donald Trump said in a conversation with Politico on Friday that he views himself as the decisive figure whose approval any potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia ultimately depends on. On Sunday, he is expected to meet in Florida with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who, according to the Ukrainian side, intends to present a new 20-point plan. The document envisages, among other measures, the creation of a demilitarized zone, with US security guarantees set to be the central issue in the talks.
In the interview, however, Trump struck a guarded tone toward Zelensky’s initiative and stopped short of offering immediate support. “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got,” the US president said. The remarks underscore how Ukraine’s future now hinges on its ability to persuade Trump that it is prepared to make concessions sufficient to satisfy the American leader, who has on several occasions signaled a willingness to take a softer line toward Moscow if that would help bring the war to an end. Russia, meanwhile, has barely retreated from its maximalist demands and has not responded in any way to the new Ukrainian plan. Washington, for its part, has pressed Zelensky to reconsider his initial positions, while Trump himself has repeatedly made clear that he is weary of protracted bargaining.
Still, the US president voiced confidence that the upcoming contacts could prove productive. “I think it will go well with him. And I think it will go well with [Vladimir] Putin, too,” Trump said, adding that he expects to speak with the Russian leader “very soon, whenever I want.”
Trump’s remarks came a day after Zelensky spoke with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. The Ukrainian leader described the exchange as “a good conversation.”
The president also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit him in the coming days. “I’ll have Zelensky. I’ll have Bibi. They’re all coming. Everyone’s coming,” Trump said. “They respect our country again.” According to NBC, Netanyahu plans to brief Trump on the growing threat posed by Iran.
Beyond security guarantees, the agenda for Zelensky’s meeting with Trump includes the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and control over Donbas—the eastern territories claimed by Moscow. Ukrainian officials describe the proposed plan as an attempt to demonstrate flexibility without formally ceding territory. In Washington, however, it has so far prompted little visible public response.
The idea of a demilitarized zone is tied to a key condition set by Kyiv—Russia must withdraw its forces from the relevant area of Donetsk region. Moscow, for its part, has given no indication that it is prepared to accept anything short of full control over the region, underscoring the enduring gap between the two sides’ positions. Trump, meanwhile, noted that Russia’s economy is under severe strain. “Their economy is in bad shape, in very bad shape,” he said.