Zelenskyy-Putin phone call possible after Trump Mar-a-Lago meeting

Sunday’s talks between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky may pave the best way for the primary cellphone name between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in additional than 5 years, a supply acquainted with the discussions mentioned.

And whereas the Mar-a-Lago assembly was offered as a step ahead within the peace efforts with Trump on the helm, the supply additionally described how securing a direct Zelenskyy-Putin cellphone name could be a “diplomatic victory” for the president.

“If Putin had participated in a name on Sunday, it might have been the best achievement within the preparation of the peace talks and the primary actual step within the peace course of,” the supply advised Fox Information Digital on situation of anonymity.

“This might be [a] diplomatic victory for President Trump.”

FINISH PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSER THAN ANY POINT DURING THE WAR

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses reporters after signing a proclamation within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on April 17, 2025 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Photographs)

“Trump appears to be probably the most profitable mediator as a result of Putin and Zelenskyy understand one another emotionally, and that could be a problem.”

Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken to Putin forward of the Zelenskyy assembly, calling the dialog “good and really productive” in a Fact Social put up.

“I do imagine we have now a deal,” Trump additionally advised reporters as he stood subsequent to Zelenskyy after arriving in Florida on Sunday, including that he believes the method “can transfer in a short time.”

“I feel we’re within the ultimate phases of talks, and we’ll see,” Trump mentioned.

“In any other case it’s going to proceed for a very long time. It’s going to both finish or it’s going to proceed for a very long time, and hundreds of thousands extra folks shall be killed,” the president added.

The assembly in Florida got here days after Zelenskyy additionally mentioned he had a “good dialog” with US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, each of whom have been additionally current on Sunday.

ZELENSKYY SAYS HE WILL MEET TRUMP ‘BEFORE THE NEW YEAR’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and European leaders pose for a photograph throughout talks on the Chancellery in Berlin, December 15, 2025. (Lisi Niesner/Pool/AFP through Getty Photographs)

As Zelenskyy approached Sunday’s assembly, the supply mentioned the Ukrainian chief was seemingly feeling anxious.

“Zelenskyy is often very nervous about such conversations with President Trump,” the supply mentioned. “He concentrates for a very long time and research the notes that the Worldwide Coverage Division and the Ministry of International Affairs put together for him.”

Sunday additionally marked the third in-person assembly between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump returned to workplace.

On the middle of the discussions was a 20-point US-backed peace plan that emerged from weeks of negotiations and required compromises from Kiev and Moscow to have interaction and maybe converse on to Zelensky, the supply mentioned.

TRUMP PROPOSES HE WILL MAKE FINAL SHOTS ON PEACE DEAL BEFORE ZELENSKYY MEETING: ‘WE’LL SEE WHAT HE’S GOT’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on August 19, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu through Getty Photographs)

“The one downside they’ve is that Putin has refused to speak to Zelensky since July 2020, after they talked in regards to the Wagner scandal and the failed operation to detain Russian Wagner militants.”

“After that, Zelensky repeatedly tried to speak to Putin, however he refused.”

“There have been alternatives for talks in August and September 2024, however they disappeared once more when Ukraine invaded the Kursk area,” the supply mentioned.

The final direct contact between the 2 leaders adopted a failed Ukrainian operation focusing on Russian Wagner mercenaries.

Ukrainian intelligence lured the mercenaries to Belarus and deliberate to intercept them on their method from Minsk to Istanbul earlier than the lads have been arrested. The Kiev Independent.

ZELENSKYY IS READY TO PRESENT NEW PEACE PROPOSALS TO THE US AND RUSSIA AFTER WORKING WITH EUROPEAN CONSULTATIONS

Putin is testing NATO’s limits with airplane raids, allied states say. (Ramil Sitdikov/Pool/Reuters)

“That final cellphone name between Zelensky and Putin got here when Ukraine was making an attempt to seize a gaggle of Russian Wagner fighters,” the supply mentioned. “The operation failed.”

Even earlier than communications have been fully reduce off, relations between the 2 leaders have been tense, the supply mentioned.

“Earlier than that time in 2020, conversations between Zelenskyy and Putin have been by no means pleasant, and there was at all times pressure between them. Throughout conversations, Putin was at all times silent, and Zelenskyy tried to construct a bond.”

“Zelenskyy at all times behaved submissively in direction of Putin and pretended to be in a very good temper, virtually as if he was taking part in a task on stage,” the supply defined.

“He talked rather a lot and browse from his notes, afraid of forgetting one thing. Generally he stumbled over his phrases or misplaced monitor of punctuation.”

Putin calls Trump’s peace plan a ‘start line’ as he warns Ukraine to withdraw or face ‘pressure’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned the 20-point plan, which U.S. officers say is about 90% full, may embrace a restricted withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from components of jap Ukraine. (Putin picture: Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool through Reuters; Zelenskyy picture: Brian Snyder/Reuters)

“When Putin was silent, Zelensky at all times requested politely: ‘What do you suppose, Vladimir Vladimirovich?’”

“Putin was simply by no means talkative,” the supply mentioned.

The talks in Florida got here as Kiev signaled a potential shift in its negotiating place. Zelenskyy has mentioned the 20-point plan, which U.S. officers say is about 90% full, may embrace a restricted withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from components of jap Ukraine with out formally recognizing Russian management, together with the creation of demilitarized zones.

He additionally urged placing the plan to a nationwide referendum if Moscow agrees to a 60-day ceasefire.

Zelenskyy has drawn a agency line on safety ensures, insisting that Ukraine wants legally binding ensures from the US to discourage future Russian aggression.

TRUMP praises ‘progress’ in Ukraine-Russia deal, admits it is ‘one of many tougher’ conflicts to resolve

Rescue staff work on the website of a constructing broken by a Russian assault in Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday, December 27, 2025. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

“For us it is extremely vital that there’s a sign that we wish legally binding safety ensures,” Zelensky advised Ukrainian journalists on Saturday. “This relies totally on President Trump,” he added.

“Ukraine is able to do no matter it takes to cease this battle,” Zelenskyy additionally wrote on X this weekend.

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“For us, precedence primary – or the one precedence – is ending the battle. For us, peace is the precedence. We should be robust on the negotiating desk. To be robust, we’d like the help of the world: Europe and the USA.”

Fox Information Digital has contacted the Kremlin and President Zelenskyy’s workplace for remark.