Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for talks aimed at negotiating a potential end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes amid sharp disagreements over key issues and fresh Russian missile and drone attacks that disrupted power supplies in Kyiv.
The talks follow a large-scale Russian assault on Saturday, during which hundreds of missiles and drones were launched across Ukraine. Zelensky described the strikes as Moscow’s response to ongoing U.S.-mediated peace efforts. The attacks caused widespread damage, leaving parts of the Ukrainian capital without electricity and heating.
During the meeting at Trump’s Florida residence, Zelensky is expected to raise several critical issues, including the future of the disputed Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, along with other security and territorial concerns.
Ukraine’s delegation arrived in Florida late Saturday, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsya, who confirmed their arrival in a post on X, sharing an image of a plane bearing the U.S. president’s name and writing, “Good evening, Florida!”
Russian demands include Ukraine surrendering the entirety of the Donbas region, including areas still controlled by Kyiv. Moscow’s objections to elements of the latest U.S.-backed proposal have raised doubts over whether President Vladimir Putin would ultimately endorse any agreement emerging from the talks.
In an interview with Axios on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to amend a U.S. proposal that would require a full Ukrainian military withdrawal from Donbas. If negotiations fail to alter that provision, Zelensky said he would consider putting the entire 20-point peace framework to a national referendum.
According to Axios, U.S. officials viewed Zelensky’s openness to a referendum as a notable shift, signaling he may no longer categorically reject territorial compromises. However, Zelensky stressed that Russia would first need to agree to a 60-day ceasefire to allow Ukraine to organize such a vote. Recent polling suggests Ukrainian public opinion may oppose the proposal.
The face-to-face talks, scheduled for 9:00 p.m. AST Arabia, follow weeks of intensive diplomacy. European allies, at times sidelined in negotiations, have accelerated efforts to outline post-war security guarantees for Ukraine, contingent on backing from Washington.
Territorial hurdles
While Kyiv and Washington are aligned on many elements of the proposal, Zelensky said on Friday that the plan is only 90 percent complete, with territorial issues remaining unresolved.
Russia insists on full control of Donbas, while Ukraine seeks to preserve the current front lines. The United States has floated a potential compromise involving the creation of a free economic zone following a Ukrainian withdrawal, though key details remain undefined.
Zelensky and European leaders have expressed concern that President Trump could strike a deal that undermines Ukraine’s interests, leaving Europe to shoulder the bulk of reconstruction costs. Russian forces have advanced by an estimated 12 to 17 square kilometers per day in 2025, according to battlefield assessments.
Russian figures claim Moscow currently controls all of Crimea, annexed in 2014, and roughly 12 percent of Ukraine’s territory following nearly four years of full-scale war. This includes about 90 percent of Donbas, 75 percent of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and smaller areas of Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.
On December 19, Putin said any settlement must reflect his 2024 terms, including Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as a formal renunciation of NATO membership.
Ukrainian and European officials view the war as an imperial project by Moscow, warning that concessions in Ukraine could embolden Russia to pursue aggression against NATO members.
The current 20-point framework evolved from an earlier 28-point proposal initially advanced by Russia. That draft emerged from discussions involving U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, which became public in November. Subsequent negotiations between Ukrainian and U.S. teams reshaped the plan into a version more favorable to Kyiv.
Allies bolster support for Ukraine
Zelensky said Saturday’s missile and drone strikes underscored Putin’s lack of interest in peace. He made the remarks after arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Standing alongside Zelensky, Carney said peace “requires a willing Russia,” adding that the overnight attack on Kyiv highlighted the urgency of continued support for Ukraine. He announced an additional $1.8 billion (C$2.5 billion) in economic assistance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after consultations with Zelensky and other European leaders that their shared objective remains “a just and lasting peace” that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while strengthening its security and defense capabilities.
Zelensky said he plans to consult European leaders again following his meeting with President Trump.
