FULL PRESS CONFERENCE: Trump, Zelenskyy speak after peace talks in Florida

[0:01] We have breaking news right now. President Trump is in Florida at Mar-a-Lago [0:05] holding a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Let's listen in. [0:09] President Emmanuel Macron of France, President Alexander Stubb of the Republic of Finland, [0:18] President Karol Noraki of the Republic of Poland, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stor [0:26] of the Kingdom of Norway, Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney of the Italian Republic, [0:35] Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland, [0:43] Chancellor Frederick Mertz, the Federal Republic of Germany, Secretary General Mark Rutte, [0:51] the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, President Ursula van der Leyen of the European [1:00] Commission. We spoke to all of those great leaders. They're all great leaders. And we had a great [1:07] talk with them after we were completed. We thought it was appropriate to speak with them. And our [1:13] meeting was excellent. We covered, somebody would say 95 percent. I don't know what percent, but we [1:19] have made a lot of progress on ending that war, which is really the certainly the most deadly war [1:26] since World War II, probably the biggest war since World War II. And I want to thank Steve Whitcoff, [1:33] who's here. And I'd like to thank Jared, who's here someplace. Thank you, Jared. And thank you, [1:37] Steve. What a great job you've done. Jared Kushner, Steve Whitcoff. And Marco Rubio is here. Thank you, [1:45] Marco. And Pete Hegseth is here. Those two people are doing an unbelievable job. And the four people [1:53] on this one are doing, I don't think anybody could do it. And we'll see if it gets done. But it's very [1:58] close. Certainly nobody would even have a chance of getting it to where it is right now. Nobody would [2:04] have thought that was possible. So I just want to say we've done very well. We've had discussions on [2:10] just about every subject. And that includes with President Putin before. And we went into great detail [2:18] and we likewise went into great detail today. And it was an honor to have you at Mar-a-Lago and have lunch. [2:24] I hope you enjoy the food. Your people enjoy the food. I can tell you that. You're big, [2:28] strong people. Your general over there. It looks like central casting. [2:34] I want to also, by the way, speaking of generals, we have a great general, [2:37] General Raisin Cain, who is here someplace. Thank you, General. Thank you very much. He's great. [2:43] So, Mr. President, maybe you want to say a few words and then we'll speak over the next couple of [2:49] weeks. We'll speak probably quite a bit, but we'll speak tomorrow. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. [2:54] Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you for everything. Dear colleagues, [2:57] first of all, I would like to thank President Trump for a great meeting at this amazing place [3:04] in his home in Mar-a-Lago. And we had really great discussions on all the topics. And we appreciate [3:10] the progress that was made by American and Ukrainian teams in these recent weeks. Special thanks to Steve [3:18] Witkoff and Jared Kushner. And thank you for their engagement and full commitment and also to our [3:26] team. And first of all, to Rustem Omero and General Gnatov and to all our teams. And we discussed all the [3:33] aspects of the peace framework, which includes and we have a great achievements, 20-point peace plan, [3:40] 90 percent agreed, and U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees, 100 percent agreed. U.S.-Europe, [3:45] Ukraine security guarantees almost agreed. Military dimension, 100 percent agreed. Prosperity plan [3:52] being finalized. And we also discussed the sequencing of the following actions. And we agree [3:58] that security guarantees is a key milestone in achieving lasting peace. And our teams will continue [4:06] working on all aspects. We also had a joint productive call with European leaders, like President [4:12] Trump said already, and a lot of leaders, including NATO and the EU. And we agreed that our teams will [4:18] meet in upcoming weeks to finalize all discussed matters. And we agreed with President Trump that he [4:25] will host us and maybe in Washington, European leaders and Ukrainian delegation. Yes, in January. [4:34] And Ukraine is ready for peace. And once again, we would like to thank President Trump for a warm, [4:39] welcome and substantial discussion. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. [4:43] Thank you so much, Mr. President. Any questions, please? [4:47] The U.S.-Ukraine security guarantees, what number are we at right now? [4:56] Well, I think we're, look, you know, you can say 95 percent, but I don't like to say percentages. I just [5:02] think we're doing very well. We're very, we could be very close. There are one or two very thorny issues, [5:08] very tough issues, but I think we're doing very well. We've made a lot of progress today, [5:12] but really we've made it over the last month. This is not a one-day process deal. This is very [5:17] complicated stuff. But I think when the President says 95, I think, you know, it could be close to 95 [5:23] percent. Yeah, please, behind you. Mr. President, have you agreed on the so-called free trade zone [5:29] on Donbass, how to separate, how to separate the sites, how to make the separation line, [5:36] who will be responsible? The word agreed is too strong. I would say not agreed, but we're getting [5:41] closer to an agreement on that. And that's a big issue, certainly. That's one of the big issues. And [5:47] I think we're closer than we're probably, it's unresolved, but it's getting a lot closer. That's [5:54] a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved. Yeah, please. [5:59] President, we are receiving some mixed signals coming from Moscow, even after you spoke with [6:03] President Putin. Can you assure us that you have received written or any formal response from them? [6:08] Well, what was the issue? You have to tell me. What did they say? [6:11] They are telling that Ukraine has to give up Donbass, just very recent statement coming out. [6:18] Well, that's what they've been asking for. And, you know, there's a dispute about that. So [6:23] they're going to have to iron that out. That's an issue they have to iron out. [6:27] It's, but I think it's moving in the right direction. [6:30] What can we take or delay the solution or peace agreement that you try to achieve? [6:37] If it, if something doesn't happen? You mean if something doesn't happen? Yeah, go ahead. [6:42] May I ask? No, go ahead. You're going to finish your question. [6:45] Will there be any step that the United States be prepared? [6:48] Well, we'll see. Look, we'll see. But I don't want to talk about that, [6:51] because I think we're getting pretty close. Yes, please. [6:53] Please. [6:54] Yes, about a territorial question, Mr. President. What is your take on Donbass status? Are you [7:00] prepared to see it as a free economic or demilitarized zone? [7:03] No, we spoke about 20 points planned, and I'm happy that really our teams [7:09] very close to results. And I agree with President Trump that our teams work not one day, not one, [7:16] not one week, more than one month, beginning from Geneva, then two meetings in Miami, [7:22] then we had Berlin, and now we have Mar-a-Lago. So this is a very difficult question. You know, [7:28] our position. So it's, I mean, this we have to respect our law and our people. We respect the [7:34] territory which we control. And of course, our attitude is very clear. That's why President Trump [7:40] said this is a very tough question. And of course, we have with Russians different positions on it. [7:46] And have you discussed referendum about our... No, when we speak about referendum, [7:50] we spoke that it's one of the key. We can have referendum on any kind of points of this plan. I [7:57] said that we can use referendum, like for the plan, or we cannot use referendum. It's one of the key. We [8:04] can use, I mean, this possibility of parliament to vote according to the law or to have referendum. [8:10] It doesn't matter. It's, I mean, this referendum, if the plan will be very difficult for our society, [8:15] very difficult, of course, our society has to choose and has to vote because it's their land, [8:21] the land not of one person. It's the land of our nation for a lot of generations. [8:27] They'll probably have to get their plan approved by parliament or by referendum of the people. [8:33] You would think that they want... I know they had a poll that it's 91% in favor of ending this war. [8:39] So they want to end it like everybody wants. Russia wants it ended. Everybody wants it ended. So, [8:43] and we want it ended. I want it ended because I don't want to see so many people dying. We're losing, [8:49] you know, massive numbers of people, the biggest by far since World War II. So we want to see it ended. [8:55] Absolutely. Yes. You said at the top that you were you plan to speak again tomorrow. Is that correct? [9:01] I might. I mean, it depends on what happens tomorrow. If there's an additional something to add, [9:07] otherwise, there's no reason to. We're in the process. Jared and Steve are working very hard to [9:13] get something done. And if there's something that comes up, I'd speak. But otherwise, I don't [9:17] think there's any reason to. In your mind, sir, what are what are the thorniest issues still [9:22] unresolved after that? Well, I think the land you're talking about, some of that land has been [9:27] taken. There's some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period [9:34] of a number of months. And you're better off making a deal now. Look, let me tell you, [9:40] they have been very brave. They fought very hard and continue to fight very hard and do tremendous damage. [9:47] But Russia would like to see it end and Ukraine would like to see it. And I think it's time to end. [9:54] And a lot of very brave people, a lot of people that are dead right now, unfortunately, [9:59] because I've said and nobody's disputed it, that if the election weren't rigged and stolen, [10:05] 2020, you wouldn't have had this war. It would have never happened. And it didn't happen for four [10:09] years. Never was even thought to happen. And I spoke with President Putin. I got along with him very [10:16] well, despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax, which was a total hoax. He used to say, [10:20] what is going on over there? But it was a total hoax, as he knew and as I knew. [10:25] But I spoke to him and would talk about Ukraine. I've said it before. It was the apple of his eye, [10:31] but he wasn't going to do anything about it. He didn't do anything about it until [10:35] I was gone. And then a lot of really bad statements were made by people, by a lot of people, [10:42] I guess, but by a certain president that we had, who was a disaster. Yes. [10:48] Do you anticipate going to Ukraine if you can get to an agreement? [10:54] I have no problem with doing it. I have no problem with doing it. Don't anticipate it. [11:00] Would like to get the deal done and not necessarily have to go. I've offered to go and speak to their [11:05] parliament. And if that would help, I don't know if that would help. I think it would probably help. [11:10] But I don't even know if that's... You're welcome. [11:13] Yeah. No, I know. Always. [11:15] So I'm not sure that it would be really necessary. But if it would help save 25,000 lives a month, [11:22] or whatever it may be, I would certainly be willing to do that. Yeah, please. [11:27] No, behind you. Are you? Where are you from? [11:32] I'm from Ukraine. Good. I had a feeling. [11:33] On a public broadcast. Good. [11:35] And how about the Parisian nuclear plant? Have you discussed this question? [11:39] On what? [11:40] The Parisian nuclear plant. [11:42] Yeah, we discussed that at length today. As you know, it's in pretty good shape. [11:48] It can start up immediately, almost immediately. And it's one of the things I discussed with [11:53] President Putin. And they were talking about the nuclear plant. That's probably the biggest in the [11:59] world, just about the biggest anywhere in the world. Can you believe that? And President Putin's [12:05] actually working with Ukraine on getting it open. He's been very good in that sense. He wants to see [12:10] that open. And he hasn't hit it with missiles, hasn't hit it with anything. It's a big danger to do [12:18] that for everybody. But they're working together to try and get it. It can open very quickly. It's in [12:24] pretty good shape. And the people there have been there for years. The people there running it. You [12:28] know, they have 5,000 people in that plant. Can you believe it? I learned that today. 5,000 people. [12:34] It's the biggest plant of its kind in the world. And they're working together to get it opened. [12:39] They could maybe get it open quickly. That's a big step when he's not bombing that plant. It's a big [12:46] step. In the readout from Moscow, they talked about the creation of some working groups. [12:53] Yes. Can you tell us about what those working groups would entail? And also, if you wouldn't [12:58] mind, what is the message that you will give to Putin when you speak to him after your meeting? [13:04] So the working group is going to be composed of Steve, Steve Whitcoff, Jared Kushner, [13:10] General Raisin Cane, Marco Rubio, and a few other people that we're going to be putting onto it. [13:18] I think Pete Hegseth should be in that working group. He knows the territory very well. He's been [13:24] fantastic at what he's doing. And they may add one or two people. And likewise, Ukraine's going to have [13:30] some very good people that were at lunch today that enjoyed the lunch today a lot more than they [13:34] thought, right? But do you want to say who may be on your working group? [13:39] Yeah. We now, as I said, that we work with Steve and Jared. We worked and worked our [13:47] Russel and also Deputy Minister Gislits and also General Gnatov. And they will continue work in this [13:56] group. And, of course, if we will go further, and I hope that really we will have decisions in [14:03] January, as I said, about all these documents, six documents. And, of course, we will continue work [14:09] on this so they know what to do. Yes. And that working group, by the way, [14:14] importantly, will also then be working with Russia. Okay? Because to work with ourselves doesn't really [14:21] solve much of a problem. So they'll be working with Russia. Yeah, please. [14:25] President, you said this morning you weren't a deadline guy. How long do you think it'll take [14:29] to get this last little bit, as you say, finished? What are we talking about? [14:31] So if it went really well, you know, maybe a few weeks. And if it went poorly longer, [14:37] and if it went really poorly, it's not going to happen. That would be a shame. There's that chance [14:42] also. You know, it's possible it doesn't happen. But, you know, in a few weeks, we will know [14:48] one way or the other, I think. But if it went really well. But you could also go poorly. I mean, [14:56] you know, we could have something where one item that you're not thinking about is a big item, [15:01] breaks it up. Look, it's been a very difficult negotiation. Very detailed. It's funny. I [15:06] settled eight wars. Some were going on for 35 years. And we got them settled in a couple of days. [15:13] Some of them. One was going on for 37 years. I settled it in one day. But this is a very complex [15:20] one. Do you want to put odds on it? What the battle? I think we'll get it done. I don't want [15:25] to say when, but I think we're going to get it done. Yes, ma'am. Mr. President, you in the past [15:29] have suggested a trilateral meeting between both Presidents Putin and Zelensky. Right. [15:33] Something that is also on the docket. I see that happening, sure, at the right time. I saw a very [15:40] interesting President Putin today. I mean, he he wants to see it happen. He wants to see it. [15:47] He told me very strongly. I believe him. Don't forget, we went through the Russia, Russia, Russia [15:53] hooks together. And he'd call me. I'd call him. I'd say, can you believe the stuff that they're making [15:58] up? And it turned out we were right. They made it all up. And despite that, we didn't get into wars [16:03] or we didn't get into problems, but we weren't able to trade very much or any of that, which was a shame [16:09] because, you know, a lot of success could have been had by trading with Russia. They have great land, [16:15] great minerals and other things. And we have things that they want very badly. But the Russia, [16:20] Russia, Russia hoax, which was a terrible made up fictional thing by Crooked Hillary and by Adam [16:28] Shifty Schiff and bad people, sick people, they made it up. It was all a made up hoax. But it kept us [16:35] really from dealing with Russia, kept Russia dealing, you know, from dealing with us. So, [16:41] but despite that, we got along. And I don't know, I think we're going to get there. I know, [16:48] I know them very well. I think we're going to get there. [16:50] Did you discuss any time, location, meeting place? [16:53] Yeah, we're discussing a lot of things. No, we look, I was on the phone with them for almost, [16:58] I guess, two and a half hours. They're just telling me now. That's a long time. [17:01] We discussed a lot of things. We didn't talk about the weather. We weren't talking about how, [17:06] what a beautiful day it is in Palm Beach, Florida. Yes. [17:09] President Zelenskyy mentioned maybe a meeting with European leaders back in Washington. [17:13] Would that be in the next few weeks? [17:14] Well, in Washington or someplace. Yeah. These leaders that I just read, [17:18] these are great people. You know, they've spent a lot of money on helping Ukraine. And look, [17:24] they're doing it for themselves also, meaning their country, because Ukraine's a very important country [17:29] for them in particular. For us, it's very important. To me, it's the lives. You know, [17:36] we're thousands and thousands of miles. We're protected by a thing called the Atlantic Ocean [17:42] and lots of other places, to be honest. And they're not, you know, they're right there. [17:47] But we're working together with them as we should be. But I'm doing it to save lives. [17:52] You know, we're not spending any money. Biden gave $350 billion away. And the president was nice [17:57] enough to give us a contract to take out rare earth and things. So we'll see how that all works [18:02] out. We have a contract. But we appreciated that. It was very good. But we'll see how that works out. [18:10] But if you think about it, we're going to have — I really believe we're probably, [18:16] Mr. President, closer than — by far, closer than ever before with both parties. [18:21] We had some times when he was close and President Putin wasn't. [18:25] Then when President Putin was close, and he wasn't. You saw that in the White House. [18:31] But — but I think they both want to see it happen. [18:34] Mr. President, in your conversation with — [18:37] You're saying that — you've said multiple times that you want to stop the killing. [18:41] And nearly 100 American citizens died in Ukraine on the battlefield. [18:45] What's your message to their families whose loved ones died fighting? [18:50] Well, look, I mean, the message is so obvious. It's — what a shame. [18:55] They died in a country — a foreign country. And some are celebrated people. They're very celebrated. [19:03] But so sad that a thing like that would happen. Yes, ma'am? [19:06] President Trump, obviously, security is a major issue for the Ukrainians. [19:10] Right. [19:11] Did you offer any promises, any assurances today? [19:13] Well, I did. I did. We want to work with Europe. And Europe is going to take over [19:18] a big part of it, as you can imagine. You know, they're right there. [19:21] But we're going to help Europe 100 percent, like they'd help us. [19:25] Yes, ma'am? You were going to say something? [19:26] Yeah, I was just going to ask — [19:27] Who are you with? [19:28] When you were talking with — [19:29] Andrey Oshala with Reuters. [19:30] That's what I thought. [19:31] Yeah. So in your conversation with President Putin, did you discuss [19:35] what responsibility Russia will have for any kind of reconstruction of Ukraine post an agreement? [19:40] I did. I did. [19:42] They're going to be helping. Russia's going to be helping. [19:45] Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. Once — it sounds a little strange, [19:49] but I was explaining to the President — President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward [19:56] Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity, and other things at very low prices. [20:04] So a lot of — a lot of good things came out of that call today. [20:07] But they were in the works for two weeks with [20:09] Steve and with Jared and Marco and everybody. [20:12] Did Russia agree or did Putin agree to a ceasefire to allow a referendum to take — [20:18] Not a ceasefire. And that's one of the points that we're working on right now. [20:23] No, not a ceasefire. He feels that, look, you know, they're fighting to stop and then [20:28] if they have to start again, which is a possibility. [20:30] He doesn't want to be in that position. And I understand that position. [20:35] The President feels strongly about that or something. But I think we're finding ways [20:40] that we can get around that. But I understand President Putin from that standpoint. You know, [20:45] you have to understand the other side. And, you know, I'm on the side of peace. [20:50] I'm on the side of stopping the war. So — but I think that's — that's a problem that's going to get [20:56] itself, yeah. Would people who live outside of Ukrainians who fled during the war be allowed [21:02] to participate in the referendum? What do you mean, people where are — [21:06] The people that left — — I mean, the refugees who fled to Poland and Germany — [21:09] You know, if we speak about the people who are abroad, who are not on the territory of Ukraine, [21:14] you mean that in Poland and Germany, we have millions of people. Yeah, they have a referendum [21:19] in the same of elections, in the same way how people come and vote. They have rights for this. And [21:25] of course, they have to come. That's why if we will come to referendum, yes, if we will come to such [21:30] decision, people need infrastructure for this. And it's not simple. And that's why we spoke about it. [21:37] It can't be in one day, very quickly. It's difficult because we need infrastructure. When you have [21:42] millions of people, you have to build it in Europe, mostly in Europe for today. President Trump, [21:49] I know you've sounded an optimistic note here. But what happens in a few weeks if things sputter? [21:54] What are you prepared to do? They keep fighting. And they keep dying. No good. But if things don't happen, [22:01] they keep fighting. And they keep dying. And we don't want that to happen. He doesn't want it to [22:07] happen. President Putin doesn't want it to happen either. Okay? Thank you very much, everybody. [22:12] Thank you. Appreciate it. Great. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thanks for lunch. [22:17] Thank you. I don't know. Was it a good lunch? Yes, sir. There's no lunch. He walked in. He said, [22:22] this place is gorgeous. I don't think he wants to go to the White House anymore. That's the problem. [22:26] All right. You were just listening to President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky [22:31] there, holding a press conference after a high-stakes attempt to advance a Ukraine-Russia peace [22:37] framework.