Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed plans to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continue to accelerate.
The meeting is expected to focus on a U.S.-brokered peace plan aimed at ending the Ukraine war, along with separate discussions on U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine. These talks come at a critical moment as fighting and air strikes persist across the country.
Focus on a U.S.-Led Peace Plan
President Zelensky has made it clear that his priority is reviewing the American peace proposal and clarifying what kind of long-term security guarantees Ukraine could receive from the United States. Kyiv views these guarantees as essential to prevent future aggression and ensure lasting stability.
However, a senior Russian official has pushed back, stating that the U.S. proposal is “radically different” from the framework Russia has been discussing with Washington, highlighting deep divisions over the direction of negotiations.
The Kremlin has also remained silent on Zelensky’s suggestion that Ukraine could withdraw troops from parts of eastern Donbas if Russia does the same, leaving the proposal unresolved.
Renewed Russian Air Strikes Hit Kyiv and Beyond
Even as diplomatic talks continue, violence on the ground has intensified. Overnight Russian air strikes injured at least five people in Kyiv, according to city officials, with another person wounded in the surrounding Kyiv region.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said Ukraine’s air defence systems were actively repelling the attacks, while residents reported loud explosions across the capital.
On Saturday morning, Ukraine’s air force warned that drone and missile threats remained in effect nationwide, confirming that Russian strikes were ongoing.
Ongoing War and the Donbas Situation
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a conflict that has since reshaped regional and global security.
Currently, Moscow controls about 75% of the Donetsk region and nearly 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk region. Together, these territories form the Donbas, a focal point of the war.
Zelensky has proposed the idea of a demilitarised “free economic zone” in parts of Donbas that Russian forces failed to seize, positioning it as a compromise option within a broader peace settlement.
Peace Plan Nearing Completion
On Friday, Zelensky told reporters that the proposed 20-point peace plan is around 90% complete, stressing that Ukraine’s goal is to finalize every remaining detail.
In a social media post, he emphasized urgency:
“We are not losing a single day. We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the new year.”
Trump Signals Confidence and Putin Talks Ahead
In an interview with Politico, Trump suggested that progress depends heavily on his approval, saying Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it.”
Trump added that he expects discussions with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to go well and confirmed he plans to speak with Putin soon.
He also revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit him in the coming days, underscoring a broader wave of high-level diplomatic engagement.
Russia–U.S. Contacts Continue
Senior Russian aides have continued phone discussions with U.S. officials, following Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev’s return from Florida last weekend.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov expressed cautious optimism but accused Ukraine of attempting to derail talks around the U.S. peace proposal.
Speaking to Russian state television, Ryabkov said December 25, 2025, could be remembered as a milestone moment when a solution came within reach—though he warned that success depends on political will from all sides.
Fresh Attack in Kharkiv Raises Alarm
Shortly after reports of Zelensky’s upcoming Florida visit surfaced, the mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, confirmed that two people were killed and several others injured in a Russian air strike, highlighting the fragile and volatile nature of the situation.