Zelensky to Meet Trump as Ukraine War Peace Talks Intensify
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with former President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday amid ongoing negotiations to end the war with Russia.
- Zelensky will meet with Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss a potential US-brokered peace plan.
- A senior Russian official has stated the proposed peace plan differs significantly from ongoing US-Russia negotiations.
- Russian air strikes injured at least one person in the Kyiv region on Saturday night.
- Trump, in a recent interview, suggested Zelensky is reliant on his approval for any deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with former President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as discussions continue regarding a potential resolution to Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine. The meeting comes as a US-brokered peace plan gains traction, though Russia has already signaled its reservations.
Peace Plan Faces Hurdles
Zelensky has indicated his focus will be on the US-brokered peace plan and securing US security guarantees. However, a senior Russian official asserted that the plan is “radically different” from the one Russia is currently negotiating with the United States. The Kremlin has yet to publicly respond to Zelensky’s proposal to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, contingent on a reciprocal Russian pullback.
What are the key sticking points in the Ukraine-Russia peace talks? The most challenging issues remain territorial disputes and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with both sides holding firm positions.
Recent Attacks and Ongoing Conflict
On Saturday night, at least one person was injured in the Kyiv region due to renewed Russian air strikes, according to local officials. Blasts were also reported within the capital city. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko stated that Ukraine’s air defense systems were actively repelling the attack and urged residents to seek shelter.
Trump’s Perspective and Russian Response
Confirmation of the planned meeting between Zelensky and Trump followed Zelensky’s announcement that he had spoken with Trump’s negotiators, special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, for an hour on Christmas Day. Zelensky described the conversation as “really good” and said it generated “new ideas” on how to end the war. He stated the 20-point plan is now 90% complete, aiming for full readiness before the new year.
However, in an interview published Friday, Trump stated that Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.” He expressed optimism about potential progress with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and indicated he anticipates speaking with Putin “soon.”
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
Putin’s aides have continued discussions with US officials via phone, following a meeting between Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and US representatives in Florida last weekend. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov expressed a positive outlook on recent developments but accused Ukraine of attempting to “torpedo” negotiations on the US plan. He noted that December 25, 2025, could be remembered as a pivotal moment in the search for a solution, dependent on the political will of all parties.
Fighting Continues Amidst Negotiations
Shortly after news of Zelensky’s upcoming visit to Florida emerged, the mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, reported that two people were killed and several others wounded in a Russian air strike.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and 99% of the neighboring Luhansk region, collectively known as Donbas.
Ukraine has been seeking security guarantees from the US as part of a potential peace agreement, with Zelensky suggesting a demilitarized “free economic zone” as a possible solution for areas of Donbas that Russia has not yet been able to capture. The White House has proposed a demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine, avoiding a definitive resolution on territorial ownership.
Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that the issue of territory, along with the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, remains the most difficult to resolve. The White House has suggested a shared control arrangement for the plant, the largest in Europe, which is currently under Russian control.
Russia is unlikely to agree to several aspects of the updated US plan, particularly regarding territorial concessions. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused “groups of states, primarily Western European” of attempting to undermine the diplomatic progress achieved.
Putin has consistently maintained that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Donbas or Russia will proceed with seizing the territory, rejecting any compromise on ending the war.
