'Close to peace..

Trump upbeat on Ukraine deal» He has 2hr chat with Zelensky

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN Deputy Political Editor

DONALD Trump last night said a peace deal was very close after face-to-face talks with Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

The US President spent two hours with Mr Zelensky in Florida finalising a way of ending the near four-year conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.

They then held a call with European leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer before emerging smiling to hold a joint press conference.

Mr Trump said: "We have made a lot of progress on ending that war.

"We discussed a lot of points. I do think we're getting a lot closer, maybe very close."

Mr Zelensky says the 20-point peace plan is "90% agreed", adding: "We agreed that security guarantees are a key milestone in achieving lasting peace and our teams will continue working on all aspects."

Before the talks, Mr Trump posted on his Truth Social platform he had had a "very productive telephone call" with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Standing alongside Mr Zelensky at his Mara-Lago resort and asked whether Mr Putin was serious about peace this time, Mr Trump replied: "I do. I think he is. I think they both are."