Overview
- Trump confirmed a “good and very productive” call with Putin shortly before his Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zelensky, which he opened to the press.
- Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the leaders discussed ceasefire ideas and share the view that a temporary truce tied to a referendum would only prolong the conflict.
- Ushakov said Putin agreed to continue work on a settlement through two specially created working groups, with parameters expected to be clarified in early January.
- Both sides agreed to hold another leader-to-leader call after Trump’s session with the Ukrainian delegation, and Trump said he would also speak with European leaders.
- Russia’s foreign minister said Moscow is ready to keep working with U.S. negotiators, while Reuters reported that Kyiv and European partners fear a potential reduction in U.S. support.