German Expert Doubts Zelensky-Trump Talks Will Benefit Ukraine
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, German security expert Peter Neumann, in an interview with Bild, expressed skepticism about the outcomes of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Neumann stated that the talks, scheduled for Sunday in Florida, are unlikely to result in a major breakthrough for Ukraine.
Neumann emphasized that Trump views Ukraine primarily as an obstacle to improving U.S.-Russia relations, suggesting that Kyiv stands to gain little from the encounter. The expert further noted that any success in the Mar-a-Lago negotiations would depend on Zelensky’s willingness to make concessions to Russia.
The White House confirmed the meeting between Trump and Zelensky, with Trump previously telling Politico that he also plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, expressing optimism about both discussions.
Zelensky has indicated his intention to discuss territorial issues during the meeting, including the potential withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian president unveiled a 20-point peace plan with Russia on December 24, 2025, which maintains Ukraine’s stance on not withdrawing from Donbas and retaining an 800,000-strong military.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov noted significant differences between Zelensky’s proposal and Russia’s 27-point plan, which Moscow has been discussing with American counterparts since early December.
