A High-Stakes Meeting at Mar-a-Lago: Why the Kremlin Claims the US and Russia See Eye to Eye

​The world watched with bated breath this weekend as the palm trees of Florida became the backdrop for one of the most significant diplomatic shifts in recent memory. At Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a marathon meeting aimed at ending the nearly four-year-old conflict that has reshaped modern history. However, the headlines following the meeting were not just about the two men in the room. They were about a third voice from thousands of miles away in Moscow.

​Before Zelenskyy even set foot on the Florida estate, President Trump held a lengthy, 75-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Kremlin, this conversation revealed a surprising and controversial alignment of interests. The Kremlin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, claimed that the United States and Russia now share a "broadly similar" view on one critical point: a temporary ceasefire would not end the war; it would only prolong it.

​The Ceasefire Trap: Moscow and Washington’s Shared Skepticism

​For years, the international community has called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Many European leaders and humanitarian organizations have argued that a pause is necessary to save lives and allow for a referendum to decide the fate of disputed territories. However, the Kremlin has now thrown a wrench into that logic, and they claim Donald Trump is holding the wrench with them.

​The Russian argument is straightforward. They believe a temporary ceasefire, under the guise of preparing for a vote or a referendum, is essentially a stalling tactic. Moscow views it as a way for Ukraine and its European allies to regroup, rearm, and prepare for a new round of hostilities later down the line. Surprisingly, the Kremlin suggests that Trump agrees with this assessment, preferring a "bold, responsible political decision" that leads to a permanent settlement rather than a short-term band-aid.

​Trump and Zelenskyy: The 90 Percent Peace Plan

​Despite the shadow cast by the Putin-Trump phone call, the face-to-face meeting between the US and Ukrainian leaders was described as "terrific" and "productive." Standing side-by-side after their talks, Zelenskyy and Trump presented a vision of a peace deal that is closer than many thought possible.

​Zelenskyy announced that a 20-point peace framework is now "90 percent agreed upon." More importantly for Kyiv, he stated that the security guarantees—the promises from the West that would protect Ukraine from future invasions—are "100 percent agreed." This is a massive development for a nation that has spent years demanding ironclad protection as a condition for any peace.

​The "Thorny Issues" and the Donbas Deadlock

​If 90 percent of the deal is done, what makes up the remaining 10 percent? In a word: territory. The most difficult hurdle remains the future of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Russia currently controls a vast majority of this area and is demanding that Ukraine officially withdraw its troops and recognize the region as Russian.

​Trump acknowledged that these "one or two very thorny issues" are unresolved but insisted that they are "getting a lot closer." The current plan reportedly suggests stopping the war at the current frontlines and establishing a massive demilitarized zone. For Zelenskyy, this is a bitter pill to swallow. While he hinted at an openness to a peace framework, he was firm in his stance that any decision involving Ukrainian land must respect the "generations of people" who call it home and would likely require a national referendum.

​A Bold Decision: The Kremlin’s Pressure on Kyiv

​The Kremlin is not just making observations; it is making demands. Yuri Ushakov’s statement was a clear signal to Kyiv: stop waiting for a ceasefire and make a "brave decision" regarding the Donbas. Moscow is essentially telling Ukraine that the time for small steps is over and that the territorial reality on the ground must be accepted.

​By claiming that Trump shares this view, Russia is attempting to isolate Ukraine from its more cautious European allies. If the US and Russia are indeed aligned on the idea that a ceasefire is a mistake, the pressure on Zelenskyy to make major concessions becomes immense. It puts him in a position where he must choose between a permanent peace that involves losing land or a continued war without the full, unconditional backing of his most powerful ally.

​European Anxiety and the January Summit

​While Trump and Putin seem to be finding common ground, Europe is watching from the sidelines with growing anxiety. Many European leaders are worried that a "grand bargain" between the US and Russia could leave them footing the bill for a devastated Ukraine while emboldening a victorious Russia on their doorstep.

​In an effort to bridge this gap, Trump and Zelenskyy held a joint call with European leaders after their meeting. They announced a plan for a major summit in Washington, D.C., this coming January. This meeting will bring together the US, Ukraine, and European powers to finalize the "prosperity plan" for rebuilding the country and to ensure that everyone is on the same page before any ink is put to paper.

​The Economic Carrot: Rebuilding a New Ukraine

​One of the more interesting aspects of the talks was Trump’s focus on the "impressive prospects for economic cooperation." The US President has often viewed foreign policy through the lens of business, and he spoke enthusiastically about the potential for American investment in rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure and tapping into its mineral wealth.

​The Kremlin also mentioned this, noting that Trump believes ending the war quickly will open up economic opportunities for all parties involved, including Russia. This "prosperity plan" is being used as the carrot to make the difficult territorial "stick" easier to handle. The idea is to turn a war-torn region into a hub of international investment, though critics argue this prioritizes corporate profits over national sovereignty.

​Final Thoughts: A New Era of Diplomacy

​The events of the past 48 hours represent a fundamental shift in the geometry of the Ukraine war. For the first time, we are seeing the outlines of a deal that both Washington and Moscow might be willing to sign, even if it leaves Kyiv in a heartbreaking position.

​The Kremlin’s claim that a ceasefire would only "prolong the conflict" is a calculated move to push the world toward a final, if painful, resolution. Whether Zelenskyy can navigate this "90 percent" plan without losing the heart of his nation remains to be seen. As the world looks toward the January summit in Washington, one thing is clear: the path to peace is no longer through a pause in fighting, but through a total, and likely permanent, redrawing of the map.