Kyiv (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet US President Donald Trump and European leaders for peace talks amid fresh missile strikes on Kyiv.
According to The Guardian, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will speak with President Trump and European leaders on Saturday to advance peace talks ahead of his Florida visit.
What are the key issues in Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with Donald Trump and EU leaders?
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will join a call on Saturday ahead of President Zelenskyy’s Florida meeting with President Trump to discuss sensitive peace talks.
The main issues involve Ukraine’s security guarantees, post-war reconstruction, and territorial disputes over Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility.
Mr Zelenskyy confirmed on Friday. 26 December that Sunday’s talks aim to refine the peace plan, describing the 20-point proposal as 90% complete.
He said,
“Our goal is to bring everything to 100%. As of today, our teams – the Ukrainian and American negotiating teams – have made significant progress.”
Axios reported that President Zelensky indicated a 60-day Russian ceasefire could pave the way for a Ukrainian peace plan referendum.
According to reports, Zelensky stated he would seek public approval if Ukraine failed to secure a decisive stance on territorial issues.
Commenting on Russia’s strikes, he said,
“We note that the Russians are trying to bypass our defensive interceptor positions through the territory of neighbouring Belarus. This is risky for Belarus. It is unfortunate that Belarus is surrendering its sovereignty in favour of Russia’s aggressive ambitions.”
He stated that Ukraine’s intelligence had detected Belarus moving equipment for attacks in border settlements, including residential areas.
President Zelensky added,
“Antennae and other equipment are located on the roofs of ordinary five-storey apartment buildings, which help guide ‘Shaheds’ (Russian drones) to targets in our western regions. This is an absolute disregard for human lives, and it is important that Minsk stops playing with this.”
How did Russia launch attacks on Kyiv amid peace talks?
In the early hours of Saturday, Kyiv was attacked by powerful explosions following Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s remarks on his US meeting. The Kyiv Independent reported that the capital faced strikes from Kinzhal hypersonic, Iskander ballistic, and Kalibr cruise missiles.
Kyiv’s City Military Administration chief, Tymur Tkachenko, confirmed that eleven people, including two minors, were injured in strikes across seven areas of the city.
He reported that an 18-storey building in Dnipro and a 24-storey building in Darnytsia were hit, with additional fires in Obolonskyi and Holosiivsky districts.
Authorities reported electricity disruptions in and around Brovary, as Ukraine’s air force announced a nationwide alert, warning of missile and drone activity over Kyiv and other regions.
In response to Russian missile activity, Poland deployed fighter jets and temporarily closed Rzeszów and Lublin airports.
Following a weekend of diplomatic efforts in Miami, President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met individually with Russian and Ukrainian representatives, with Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, also participating.
The latest peace plan is an updated version of a 28-point document agreed weeks ago between US envoys and Russian officials, widely seen as favoring the Kremlin.
Ukraine has demanded national security guarantees under NATO’s Article 5 for any proposed peace deal, though Moscow’s acceptance remains uncertain.
President Trump said in an interview that he looked forward to a “good meeting” with President Zelenskyy but offered no support for the proposed peace plan.
He added,
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.”
What did Russia say about Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s peace plan?
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov criticized Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies over peace negotiations.
He said,
“Our ability to make the final push and reach an agreement will depend on our own work and the political will of the other party. Especially in a context where Kyiv and its sponsors – notably within the European Union, who are not in favour of an agreement – have stepped up efforts to torpedo it.”
Mr Ryabkov said the plan developed with Zelenskyy’s input “differs significantly” from the points earlier drafted by US and Russian officials this month.
He added,
“Without an adequate resolution of the problems at the origin of this crisis, it will be quite simply impossible to reach a definitive accord.”
When will Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet Donald Trump?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET.
The summit will take place in Florida, specifically at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where he is currently spending the Christmas break.