Negotiations in Florida could pave the way for a direct phone call between Kyiv and the Kremlin, which is being referred to in the U.S. as a potential "diplomatic victory."
A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago could be a step towards the first direct phone call in more than five years between the President of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin. This was reported by Fox News, citing a source familiar with the negotiations.
According to the interlocutor, the possibility of a direct call between Zelensky and Putin is seen as a key breakthrough in preparing for peace negotiations.
"If Putin were to join the phone call on Sunday, it would be the biggest achievement in preparing for peace negotiations and the first real step in the peace process," the source noted on condition of anonymity.
In the U.S., this prospect is already being referred to as a "diplomatic victory" for Donald Trump.
"It would be a diplomatic victory for President Trump," the interlocutor emphasized, adding that Trump now appears to be the "most successful mediator," as there is deep personal tension between Zelensky and Putin.
Putin Refuses
At the same time, the source reminds that the main obstacle remains Putin's unwillingness to speak directly with Zelensky. The last time they were in contact was in 2020 - after the failure of the Ukrainian special operation against Wagner Group militants. Since then, according to the interlocutor, Putin has repeatedly declined direct conversations, and possible "windows" for contact in 2024 disappeared after the Ukrainian army's operation in the Kursk region.
Despite this, Washington believes that the current negotiations involving the U.S. could compel Moscow to engage in direct contact. The discussions center around the U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan, which, according to American officials, is already about 90% fulfilled and which requires direct communication between the parties.
Zelensky, for his part, publicly emphasizes that a key condition for Ukraine in any agreements remains legally binding security guarantees from the U.S.
"It is very important for us to signal that we want legally binding security guarantees," he stated.
In the White House and among American intermediaries, it is acknowledged that even one phone call between Zelensky and Putin could be a turning point and the first real signal of the parties' readiness to move from behind-the-scenes contacts to direct dialogue.
