Peace Talks “Closer Than Ever,” Trump Says After Follow-Up Ukraine Meeting

Part Two of Ongoing Coverage

Washington, D.C.; December 29th, 2025

President Donald Trump said on December 28th that negotiations aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia have reached what he described as their most advanced stage to date, following additional meetings with Ukrainian leadership.

“Our meeting was excellent,” Trump said. “Somebody would say 95 percent. We have made a lot of progress on ending that war, which is really the most deadly war since World War II.”

Trump stated that the discussions resulted in significant forward movement and expressed confidence that negotiations are closer to resolution than at any previous point since the conflict began.

“I really believe we’re probably, Mr. President, closer than ever before — by far closer than ever before,” Trump said.

Conflict Described as Deadliest Since World War II

Trump emphasized the severity of the conflict, describing it as the most deadly war in Europe since the Second World War. He reiterated that the scale of casualties is a primary motivation behind the urgency of negotiations.

While no specific casualty figures were cited during the remarks, Trump repeated his earlier warnings that failure to reach an agreement would result in continued mass loss of life.

Continued Diplomatic Engagement

The President’s comments followed a series of meetings involving American and Ukrainian negotiating teams, which Trump has repeatedly praised for advancing discussions on security, economic recovery, and the sequencing of steps toward ending hostilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was referenced during Trump’s remarks, though no additional statements from Zelensky were made public during this portion of the exchange.

Trump did not announce a finalized agreement, nor did he outline remaining points of contention, but his remarks indicated that negotiations are nearing a critical juncture.

No Formal Agreement Announced

Despite the optimistic assessment, Trump did not declare the war officially ended, nor did he confirm that all parties had signed or approved a final deal. He did not specify timelines for completion, consistent with his earlier statements that negotiations would proceed without fixed deadlines.

The White House has not released additional documentation detailing the substance of the discussions referenced in Trump’s remarks.

Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

• THE WHITE HOUSE — Public remarks by President Donald Trump following Ukraine peace discussions, December 28th, 2025