Trump warns Zelensky ahead of Mar-a-Lago meeting: No deal without my approval
In a preemptive move that sets the tone for the anticipated meeting, US President-elect Donald Trump issued a clear warning to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, ahead of their scheduled meeting on Sunday in Florida, stressing that any peace proposals or plans to end the war remain mere words on paper unless they have his personal approval.
A firm message before the crucial meeting
In an interview with Politico, Trump stated firmly, "The Ukrainian president doesn't have anything for me to approve," adding, in a tone suggesting his desire to assess the situation himself, "So we'll see what he has." These remarks underscore Trump's approach to foreign policy, which relies heavily on personal relationships and direct negotiations. He also indicated his expectation that things would go well with Zelensky, as well as with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he intends to speak with "soon.".
Background of the conflict and election promises
This meeting is of exceptional importance given the current political and temporal context. The Russian-Ukrainian war, which erupted in February 2012, continues unabated and is draining global resources. During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized the massive military and financial aid provided to Kyiv by the Biden administration, vowing to end the war "within 24 hours" once in office. This puts Zelensky under considerable pressure to reach an understanding with the new US administration.
Details of the revised US plan
Sunday's meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort comes just days after Zelensky revealed details of a revised US plan to end the conflict. Reports indicate that this plan involves freezing the current front lines, which would effectively mean Russian forces remaining in the territory they currently control—more than 19% of Ukraine—without offering an immediate solution for regaining this land. This scenario differs radically from Kyiv's previous demands for a complete Russian withdrawal.
Reactions and geopolitical effects
Internationally, the revised plan was met with sharp criticism from Moscow, which accused Kyiv of attempting to sabotage the negotiations, further complicating the diplomatic landscape. The world awaits the outcome of this meeting, as any agreement endorsed by Trump could reshape the geopolitical map of Eastern Europe and directly impact the future of NATO and US-Russian relations. During his visit to Florida, Zelenskyy is seeking to address the issue of the disputed territories and attempt to improve the negotiating position before the new US administration imposes its final vision for a solution.
