Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Florida on Sunday for face-to-face talks with US President Donald Trump, hours after a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv left one person dead and dozens wounded. The attack, which Russia launched on Saturday, targeted energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in freezing temperatures.
Zelensky said Moscow had used nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles, including ballistic missiles, in the 10-hour assault. Ukraine's leading private energy provider restored power to nearly 750,000 households in Kyiv, but emergency outages remained in force on the left bank. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said a third of the capital was without heating as temperatures hovered around 0C.
Before meeting Trump, Zelensky stopped in Canada to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney, who announced an additional $2.5bn (£1.85bn) in economic aid and condemned the “barbaric” attack on Kyiv. Carney said a just peace required a “willing Russia”. EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa reaffirmed unwavering support, with von der Leyen vowing to keep up pressure on the Kremlin and support Ukraine's EU membership path.
Zelensky said the overnight bombings showed international pressure on Russia was insufficient. “If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burnt apartments … then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” he said, urging partners to use their capabilities. Russia’s defence ministry claimed it had downed 111 Ukrainian drones in a retaliatory strike and also said it had captured the towns of Myrnograd and Guliaipole in eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky described the Florida meeting as intended “to refine things as much as we possibly can”. He said a proposed 20-point peace plan was “90% ready”, building on an earlier 28-point document agreed between US envoys and Russian officials, which was widely seen as skewed towards Kremlin demands. Zelensky noted he would need Ukrainian public approval if he failed to secure a strong territorial position. Ukraine continues to push for security guarantees modelled on NATO's Article 5 mutual defence pledge, though Russia's acceptance remains unclear.
