Washington, DC US News: President Donald Trump declared Monday that a breakthrough agreement to end the war in Ukraine is now within reach, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that negotiations are “going along very well” and there is a “good chance” of a deal soon.
The optimistic assessment follows marathon closed-door talks over the weekend in Hallandale Beach, Florida, where top Ukrainian officials met face-to-face with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and other senior Trump administration figures.
Trump emphasized the human cost driving the urgency. “We’re trying to stop people from being killed every single day,” he said. “I’d like to see if we can save a lot of lives, a lot of souls.”
The Florida meeting centered on a revised 19-point framework that evolved from an earlier, more controversial 28-point draft widely criticized for appearing to favor Moscow. Sources familiar with the discussions say the new version drops some of the most contentious demands, including immediate elections and drastic cuts to Ukraine’s military, while still calling for a ceasefire and talks on long-term security guarantees.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the Florida session as “very constructive” and thanked Trump personally for his “intensive personal involvement.” However, in a televised address from Kyiv, he struck a cautious note: “We see positive movement, but our team must study every line. Some difficult issues remain unresolved. Ukraine will never trade its sovereignty or its future.”
Complicating the diplomatic push is a fast-moving corruption scandal in Kyiv. Andrii Yermak, Zelenskyy’s powerful chief of staff and until recently the lead Ukrainian negotiator, abruptly resigned last week after anti-corruption investigators raided his properties as part of a $100 million embezzlement probe tied to the state nuclear energy company. Yermak did not travel to Florida and has denied wrongdoing.
The Kremlin quickly seized on the scandal, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it evidence of a “deep political crisis” in Ukraine fueled by Western aid. Trump alluded to the issue Monday, saying corruption concerns are a “difficult little problem” but insisting the peace process must move forward.
U.S. officials say Witkoff is already en route to Moscow for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, in what could be the final shuttle before a possible leaders-level summit.
Meanwhile, the war on the ground shows no sign of slowing. Russian forces launched another massive drone and missile barrage overnight, killing at least four civilians and wounding dozens more. Ukraine’s air defenses downed or diverted most of the 89 drones, but strikes still hit energy infrastructure, deepening nationwide blackouts as winter approaches.
European allies are watching nervously. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the coming days “decisive,” urging Washington to ensure any agreement holds Russia accountable rather than rewarding aggression.
For now, the world waits to see whether Trump’s high-stakes diplomatic gamble can deliver the first real prospect of peace in nearly four years of brutal conflict.
