Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may speak with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin by phone for the first time in over five years.
According to Fox News, as reported by Hvylya, this move could be facilitated by Sunday's meeting between Donald Trump and Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago.
"Sunday’s talks between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky could pave the way for Zelensky’s first phone call with... Vladimir Putin in over five years," the article states.
While the Florida meeting was presented as a step forward in Trump-led peace efforts, a source added that securing a direct call between Zelensky and Putin would be a "diplomatic victory" for the U.S. President.
"If Putin had joined the call on Sunday, it would have been the greatest achievement in preparing peace talks and the first real step in the peace process… It would be a diplomatic victory for President Trump," the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source added that Trump appears to be the most successful mediator because "Putin and Zelensky perceive each other emotionally, which is a challenge."
Trump Confirms Contact with Putin
Trump confirmed on Sunday that he spoke with Putin before meeting Zelensky, describing the conversation as "good and very productive" in a Truth Social post.
"I believe we have the basis for a deal," Trump told reporters while standing alongside Zelensky after his arrival in Florida, adding that he believes the process could "move very quickly."
"I think we're in the final stages of negotiations, and we'll see. Otherwise, it's going to go on for a long time. It’s either going to end or it’s going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people will die," Trump said.
Zelensky "Nervous" Before Meeting
The Florida meeting took place days after Zelensky also reported a "good conversation" with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, both of whom were present on Sunday.
Prior to Sunday's meeting, a source indicated the Ukrainian leader likely felt anxious.
"Zelensky is usually very nervous before such conversations with President Trump," the source said. "He spends a long time concentrating and studying notes prepared for him by the Department of International Policy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
Sunday also marked the third face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelensky since Trump's return to office.
20-Point Peace Plan
At the heart of the discussions was a U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan resulting from weeks of negotiations. The plan would require compromise from both Kyiv and Moscow to engage and potentially lead to a direct conversation with Zelensky, the source reported.
"The only difficulty is that Putin has refused to speak with Zelensky since July 2020, following the Wagner scandal and the failed operation to detain Russian Wagner fighters. Since then, Zelensky has repeatedly tried to speak with Putin, but he refused. There were windows of opportunity for a call in August and September 2024, but they vanished again when Ukraine invaded the Kursk region," the source said.
Last Contact in 2020
The last direct contact between the two leaders occurred after a failed Ukrainian operation against Russian Wagner mercenaries.
Ukrainian intelligence had lured the mercenaries to Belarus and planned to intercept them en route from Minsk to Istanbul before the men were arrested, according to The Kyiv Independent.
"That last call between Zelensky and Putin happened when Ukraine was trying to capture a group of Russian Wagner fighters," the source noted. "The operation failed."
Even before communication ceased entirely, relations between the two leaders were strained, according to the source.
The Dynamic Between Zelensky and Putin
"Up to that point in 2020, calls between Zelensky and Putin were never friendly, and there was always tension between them. During negotiations, Putin was always silent, while Zelensky tried to establish contact."
"Zelensky always behaved deferentially toward Putin and pretended to be in a good mood, almost as if he were playing a role on stage. He talked a lot and read from his notes, afraid of forgetting something. Sometimes he would stumble over words or lose punctuation. When Putin remained silent, Zelensky would always politely ask, 'What do you think, Vladimir Vladimirovich?'... Putin was simply never talkative," the source said.
Kyiv's New Stance
The Florida talks occurred as Kyiv signaled a potential shift in its negotiating position. Zelensky stated that the 20-point plan—which U.S. officials say is roughly 90% ready—could include a limited withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from parts of eastern Ukraine without official recognition of Russian control, as well as the creation of demilitarized zones.
He also suggested putting the plan to a national referendum if Moscow agrees to a 60-day truce.
Zelensky drew a clear line regarding security guarantees, insisting that Ukraine needs legally binding assurances from the U.S. to deter future Russian aggression.
"It is very important for us to have a signal that we want legally binding security guarantees," Zelensky told Ukrainian journalists on Saturday. "This primarily depends on President Trump."
"Ukraine is ready to do everything necessary to stop this war," Zelensky also wrote on X this weekend. "Our number one priority—our only priority—is ending the war. For us, the priority is peace. We must be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States."
