Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to travel to the United States for a planned meeting with Donald Trump on Sunday, as Washington continues to push for a possible peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow. The Ukrainian president said the visit would take place at a location in Florida, widely expected to be Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort.
The meeting is the latest development in a diplomatic push that began with the circulation of a 28-point US plan shaped with input from Russian officials. Zelenskyy said the high-stakes talks would focus on Ukrainian security guarantees, reconstruction, and territorial discussions regarding the Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He described the proposed 20-point peace plan as 90 per cent ready and said Ukrainian and American negotiating teams had made significant progress.
However, Russia has shown little sign of softening its demands. At a closed-door meeting with business elites, President Vladimir Putin reportedly reiterated his demand that Ukraine hand over the entire eastern Donbas region. The Kremlin also indicated openness to a limited territorial exchange, but it remains uncertain whether Moscow would accept key proposals such as a demilitarised buffer zone or joint management of the Zaporizhzhia plant.
Early on Saturday, several powerful explosions rocked Kyiv, with Ukraine's air force announcing a countrywide air alert as drones and missiles moved over several regions. The attacks underscored the ongoing hostilities even as diplomatic efforts continue.
Trump, in an interview with Politico, said he anticipated a “good” meeting with Zelenskyy but offered no endorsement of his plan, stating, “He doesn't have anything until I approve it.” Trump also said he expected to speak with Putin soon.
