Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as negotiations continue on ending Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Zelensky said the talks are expected to focus on a US-brokered peace plan and separate proposals for American security guarantees. However, a senior Russian official said the plan under discussion differs significantly from what Moscow has been negotiating with Washington.
Russia has spoken of “slow but steady progress” in talks, but has not responded to Zelensky’s offer to withdraw Ukrainian troops from parts of the eastern Donbas region if Russian forces do the same.
Meanwhile, explosions were heard in Kyiv on Saturday night, which Ukrainian officials said were caused by a new Russian aerial attack. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said air defence systems were repelling the assault and urged residents to take shelter. There was no immediate information on casualties.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls about 75 percent of the Donetsk region and nearly all of neighbouring Luhansk, together known as the Donbas.
Ukraine has been seeking firm security guarantees from the United States as part of any peace agreement. Zelensky has proposed a demilitarised “free economic zone” for areas of Donbas not seized by Russia.
Speaking on Friday, Zelensky said a 20-point peace plan was 90 percent complete and stressed the need to finalise it soon. He later wrote on social media that a high-level meeting with Trump had been agreed and that significant decisions could be made before the new year.
In contrast, Trump told Politico that Zelensky “doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” adding that he expected discussions with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to go well. Trump also said he expects to speak with Putin soon.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said progress had been made but accused Ukraine of trying to undermine negotiations. He described December 25, 2025, as a potential milestone for reaching a solution, depending on political will.
Shortly after news of Zelensky’s visit emerged, officials in Kharkiv said a Russian air strike killed two people and injured several others.
Zelensky has met Trump several times this year, including a tense meeting in February and a more cordial discussion in October. The upcoming talks follow a phone call on Christmas Day between Zelensky and Trump’s chief negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which Zelensky described as productive.
The White House has proposed creating a demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine, allowing both sides to avoid resolving territorial ownership immediately. Zelensky has said Ukraine would only agree to such a zone if Russia also withdraws an equal distance from occupied territory.
Territorial issues and the future of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain among the most difficult obstacles to an agreement. Russia has repeatedly warned it will seize the entire Donbas if Ukrainian forces do not withdraw.
The latest proposals reportedly include US and European security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 and allow Ukraine to maintain its current military strength, a point strongly opposed by Moscow.
