In a significant diplomatic encounter, former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky convened at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on Sunday. Their discussions focused on ongoing efforts to broker peace in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Greeting Zelensky at the club’s entrance, Trump expressed a hopeful outlook, conveying to reporters that both parties “have the makings of a deal” to bring an end to the hostilities.

Following their discussions, Trump and Zelensky addressed the media at a joint press conference, revealing that they had made strides on a 20-point peace proposal championed by Zelensky. Both leaders acknowledged that while substantial progress has been made, further efforts are needed to fully resolve the conflict.

“Our meeting was excellent,” Trump stated during the press conference. “We covered—some might say 95 percent, although I’m not sure about the exact percentage—but we’ve made significant headway in ending that war.”

Here are three key takeaways from their meeting:

Zelensky: Negotiators agreed to ’90 percent’ of 20-point peace plan

After the meeting, which included Trump, Zelensky, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov and Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Olha Stefanishyna, the Ukrainian leader said that negotiators agreed to “90 percent” of his 20-part peace framework. 

“We discussed all the aspects of the peace framework … [the] 20-point peace plan [is] 90 percent agreed,” Zelensky said, standing beside Trump.

Zelensky drafted the proposal in response to the Trump administration proposing a 28-point peace plan last month. 

Under the plan, Ukraine would receive security guarantees from the U.S. and Europe, and would be able to join the European Union at a specific date in the future. The eastern European nation would also maintain its armed forces at their current levels of 800,000, while the fighting in Donetsk will be halted at the current battle lines — with Ukrainian and Russian forces withdrawing to create a demilitarized zone overseen by internal forces.  

The proposal calls for similar joint withdrawals in Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, while Russia also would withdraw from Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy and Kharkiv. 

Zelensky’s plan also calls for Ukraine to receive $800 billion in aid to rebuild its infrastructure and economy after the war. 

The Ukrainian leader said Sunday that the U.S. side agreed “100 percent” with the sections of the framework outlining security guarantees, with the U.S., Ukraine and European countries “almost” in agreement on joint guarantees. After their meeting, Zelensky and Trump held a phone call with European leaders. 

Zelensky also said that the prosperity plan to rebuild Ukraine is “being finalized.”

Trump, meanwhile, said the sides have “made a lot of progress” and expressed optimism about ending the nearly four-year conflict. 

“We’ll see if it gets done, but it’s very close, certainly,” the president added after the meeting.

Trump says land is major sticking point for peace

When asked about “the thorniest issues still unresolved” by a reporter during the press conference, Trump responded that land was a notable one.

“I think the land — you’re talking about — some of that land has been taken. 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,” Trump said in his answer.

“We respect the territory which we control. And of course, our attitude is very clear,” Zelensky said during the meeting.

Future negotiations to take place

During the press conference on Sunday, Zelensky said the U.S. and Ukraine came to an agreement to “meet in upcoming weeks to finalize all discussed matters and we agreed with President Trump that he will host us, maybe in Washington — European leaders and Ukrainian delegation, yes, in January.”

Trump also said the peace process was “not a one-day issue,” but boasted about progress so far. He also did not rule out a trip to Ukraine if a peace plan is put in place.

“I’d have no problem with doing it, I have no problem with doing — it would — don’t anticipate it,” Trump said of a Ukraine trip. “Would like to get the deal done and not necessarily have to go. I’ve offered to go and speak to their parliament and — you know — if that would help.”

Zelensky added later that Trump was “welcome” to speak to the Ukrainian parliament.

“I thank President Trump @POTUS and his team for the negotiations. I thank the United States for its support. Together, we must — and can — implement our vision for the sequencing of steps toward peace,” Zelensky said in a post on the social platform X Sunday after the meeting.