Putin's Stalled Shift on Ukraine Tests Trump's Diplomacy Ahead of Zelenskyy Meeting

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet Donald Trump in Florida to discuss a 20-point peace plan, Russian leader Vladimir Putin shows barely any shift from his original position on the war. While Zelenskyy claims his peace proposal is '90% ready' and had productive talks with Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Russian officials have offered only measured, minimal responses. Putin, benefiting from Trump's realignment of US-Russia relations and growing tensions between the US and European allies, sees little incentive to compromise on territorial ambitions. This limited Russian flexibility becomes a diplomatic test for Trump's ability to balance strength with his desire for a deal. The meeting comes as Putin continues his strategic positioning while Ukrainian forces face ongoing Russian attacks.