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The lull between Christmas and New Year’s, often referred to as “Twixmas,” usually invites a time of relaxation and leisure. However, President Trump seems to have other plans for this interval, opting to turn Mar-a-Lago, dubbed the “White House of the South,” into a diplomatic hub. Rather than indulging in holiday comforts, Trump is set to engage with international leaders over pressing global issues, notably aiming to secure peace agreements for Ukraine and Gaza.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be the first to visit Trump this Sunday. This anticipated encounter underscores significant strides toward resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump had previously stated he would only meet with Zelensky if a peace agreement was near completion, suggesting that substantial progress has been made.
In a social media announcement on Friday, Zelensky hinted at the upcoming meeting by saying, “We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year. Glory to Ukraine!” He mentioned that Trump’s peace proposal is “90%” finalized, though he did not confirm if any agreements would be officially signed during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago.
This Florida summit would crown several months of diligent negotiations spearheaded by Trump advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. These advisors have been globe-trotting in pursuit of peace deals, with their latest discussions taking place in Miami with Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov. The talks were described as “positive and constructive,” signaling optimism for a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed on Friday that Yuri Ushakov, chief foreign policy aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been in discussions with U.S. officials. As the Sunday meeting approaches, a U.S. official noted, “We’ve gone as far as possible with the Russians and the Ukrainians. We’ve made more progress in the last two weeks than the last year. We want to push the ball into the goal. We’re heading in the right direction.”
The meeting is a sign of significant progress in the talks. Trump said previously that he’d only meet Zelensky if he felt a deal was close. https://t.co/cBT7WAMj0E
— Axios (@axios) December 26, 2025
The Florida meeting between Trump and Zelensky would cap off months of meetings held by Trump advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have been crisscrossing the world in pursuit of peace deals. The two most recently met with Ukrainian national security adviser Rustem Umerov in Miami, with the talks reportedly “positive and constructive.”
The Kremlin confirmed Friday that that Yuri Ushakov, Russia President Vladimir Putin’s chief foreign policy aide, had recently engaged in conversations with his U.S. counterparts. Heading into Sunday’s meeting, one U.S. official remarked, “We’ve gone as far as possible with the Russians and the Ukrainians. We’ve made more progress in the last two weeks than the last year. We want to push the ball into the goal. We’re heading in the right direction.”