“They are getting close to a deal, but I hope Ukraine acts quickly because Russia is still in the picture,” Trump told reporters at the White House on December 18. “You know, whenever Ukraine takes too long, Russia tends to change its mind.”
U.S. media reported that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to meet Russian officials in Miami on December 19. Trump acknowledged that the negotiations have been “a bit more difficult than we initially thought,” but said there remains a chance to finalize an agreement, possibly in the near future.
👉 Click here to purchase the “USA American Flag Eagle Patriotic” now!
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has commented on Trump’s remarks. On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a Ukrainian delegation would hold talks with U.S. officials on December 19–20. Zelensky called on Washington to provide clearer details regarding security guarantees aimed at protecting Ukraine from potential future Russian attacks after a peace deal.
“What will the United States do if Russia attacks Ukraine again?” Zelensky asked. “What exactly are these security guarantees? How will they work?”
Zelensky also said Ukraine must resolve key financial issues before the end of the year, a move he said could give Kyiv greater leverage in negotiations to end the conflict. He argued that Russian assets should be used both to deter further aggression and to rebuild the destruction caused by the war.
“Russian assets must be used to prevent further attacks and to rebuild what has been destroyed,” Zelensky said, calling such measures morally, legally, and ethically justified. He warned that without adequate financial support, Ukraine could face serious limitations, including an inability to produce drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The European Union estimates that Ukraine will require an additional $159 billion to sustain its operations over the next two years. EU leaders are currently debating whether frozen assets belonging to Russia’s central bank should be used to support Ukraine.
Most of these frozen assets are held by Euroclear, based in Belgium. However, Belgium has so far opposed the move, citing concerns over potential legal and financial retaliation from Russia.
One proposed concession to Belgium involves other EU member states offering unlimited commitments to share legal liability should Russia file lawsuits. European diplomats say this proposal remains highly controversial and that a final agreement is far from certain.