Volodymyr Zelensky is leaning on the potential influence of President Donald Trump in his quest to resolve the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian leader is optimistic that diplomatic efforts could bring an end to the war that has strained his nation.

In a recent discussion with Axios, Zelensky expressed willingness to present his latest peace proposal to the Ukrainian public through a referendum, provided Russia consents to a ceasefire lasting at least 60 days. This condition underscores the urgency and seriousness with which he approaches the peace process.

To advance these efforts, Zelensky has organized a last-minute visit to President Trump’s Florida estate, often referred to as the ‘Winter White House.’ His aim is to broker a peace agreement before the year’s end, signaling a proactive approach to diplomacy.

On Friday morning, Zelensky took to his X account to inform the public of this planned diplomatic engagement. He mentioned that Rustem Umerov, his chief negotiator, had updated him on recent interactions with American officials, emphasizing the ongoing momentum in peace efforts. He stated, “We are not losing a single day,” highlighting the urgency of the situation.

Zelensky further revealed that a high-level meeting with President Trump has been agreed upon, which he hopes will facilitate meaningful progress in ending the conflict. This upcoming meeting reflects a strategic move to leverage international relationships in pursuit of peace.

Setting a timeline for his latest negotiation, the Ukrainian leader noted that ‘a lot can be decided before the New Year.’

The Kiev Post reported Friday that Zelensky is ‘expected to travel to Florida in the coming days for high-stakes talks in Mar-a-Lago – a potential venue for a meeting with US leadership.’

Trump has no public events on his schedule on Friday, and the White House did not immediately respond to a Daily Mail request for comment to confirm details about a potential meeting.

President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2025

Trump welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025, in Anchorage, Alaska. The two leaders met for peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

The talks at Trump’s Florida residence are expected to focus on the structure, timing, and substance of a potential ceasefire framework.

Zelensky earlier held a marathon call on Christmas Day with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which he described as an intensive discussion on how to halt the fighting.

‘We have some new ideas,’ Zelensky said after the call. ‘Some documents are already prepared. As I see it, they are nearly ready, and some documents are fully prepared.’

Trump has done his best to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine since he took office in January, yet to no avail.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has also met with Trump, coming to Alaska for a meeting this past August. The event was scheduled to last longer than it did, but was cut short as negotiations undoubtedly went south.  

In an interview with Politico earlier this month, Trump erupted at Zelensky for not accepting his Ukraine peace deal and warned that Russia has the ‘upper hand’ in the war.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump participate in a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025

The President said at the time that the Ukrainian leader needs to ‘get his act together and start accepting things’.

Trump also issued withering criticism for America’s ‘weak’ European allies, accusing them of ‘talking too much’ while ‘not delivering’ peace for the Ukrainian people.

‘I think they’re weak,’ the commander-in-chief told Politico in an interview. ‘But I also think that they want to be so politically correct.’

‘I think they don’t know what to do,’ he added. ‘Europe doesn’t know what to do.’

Trump last month ratcheted pressure on Zelensky and Vladimir Putin as he unveiled a 28-point peace plan, modeled on his landmark Gaza deal.

However, the plan faces significant hurdles, particularly concerning Ukraine’s potential territorial concessions to Russia and measures to protect against future military action.

During a visit to the White House back in February, Zelensky also famously got into a spat with the Vice President.

JD Vance publicly dressed down the Ukrainian president for not being respectful enough to Trump during a dramatic Oval Office meeting at the White House in February. 

At the time, the Vice President launched into attack mode after he felt the US leader was being disrespected by Zelensky.

‘Mr President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,’ Vance said after Zelensky repeatedly interrupted and disputed statements made by Trump.

A source familiar with the meeting at the White House told the Daily Mail at the time that Zelensky’s demeanor was surprising to American officials in the room.

‘No one expected the meeting to play out as it did, because nobody expected [him] to act that way,’ the source said.

Vance noted that Biden stood up for four years and ‘talked tough’ while ‘thumping his chest’ but Putin invaded Ukraine anyway.

‘The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy,’ Vance said back in February.