Summary: President Trump told POLITICO he will personally weigh any Ukraine-Russia peace deal, saying Zelenskyy "doesn't have anything until I approve it." Zelenskyy is due in Florida with a 20-point plan that includes a proposed demilitarized zone and requests U.S. security guarantees. Trump expressed skepticism but said he expects the talks to go well; Netanyahu is also set to meet Trump this weekend. The U.S. recently struck ISIS targets in Nigeria after a one-day delay Trump ordered for symbolic reasons.
Trump Says Zelenskyy 'Has Nothing Until I Approve It' — Will Weigh In On Ukraine Peace Plan
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a speech during a solemn event on the Day of Diplomatic Service Workers at the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 22, 2025. (Photo by Danylo Antoniuk/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NO USE RUSSIA. NO USE BELARUS.
President Donald Trump told POLITICO on Friday that he intends to be the deciding voice on any Ukraine-Russia peace agreement, saying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "doesn't have anything until I approve it." The comment comes ahead of a planned meeting between the two leaders in Florida on Sunday, when Zelenskyy is expected to present a new 20-point peace framework.
What Zelenskyy Is Bringing
Ukrainian officials say the proposal includes a proposed demilitarized zone, provisions for U.S. security guarantees, and measures addressing control of territory in Donbas and the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Kyiv has described the plan as an effort to demonstrate flexibility without formally ceding territory.
Trump's Reaction
In the interview, Trump sounded guarded about endorsing the plan immediately. "He doesn't have anything until I approve it," he said. The remark underscored how much influence the U.S. president could exert over any negotiated outcome and highlighted the diplomatic challenge of persuading Washington — and Trump personally — that Kyiv's concessions, if any, would be acceptable.
"I think it's going to go good with him. I think it's going to go good with [Vladimir] Putin," Trump told POLITICO, adding he expects to speak with the Russian leader "soon, as much as I want."
Broader Context
Moscow has given no public sign that it would accept anything short of full control over parts of eastern Ukraine, leaving a large gap between the two sides. U.S. officials have privately urged Zelenskyy to adjust some red lines, while Trump has at times expressed impatience with protracted negotiations and shown a preference for quick resolution.
The meeting follows a round of conversations between Zelenskyy and two of Trump's confidants — special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — which the Ukrainian president called a "good conversation." Trump also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit him this weekend and is expected to brief on concerns about Iran.
Other Recent Developments
Separately, the U.S. launched airstrikes against ISIS camps in Nigeria. Trump told POLITICO he delayed the operation by a day "for symbolic reasons," calling the strikes a response to the group's attacks on Christians. "They were going to do it earlier," he said. "And I said, 'nope, let's give a Christmas present.' ... Every camp got decimated."
Trump also commented on Russia's economy, saying it is under significant strain: "Their economy is in tough shape, very tough shape."
What to watch next: Sunday’s meetings and any detail released about Zelenskyy’s 20-point framework — particularly the conditions attached to a demilitarized zone and how Washington and Moscow respond — will be closely scrutinized by allies and adversaries alike.
