Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP photo)
US President Donald Trump is set to host a crucial meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, an engagement can be seen as another effort to ease the ongoing war and push forward a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, now nearing four years since Moscow’s invasion. The talks will include Zelenskyy’s “20-point peace deal proposal”, which is “about 90% ready” as Ukrainian leader said.
The meeting is scheduled for 1pm, the White House said late Friday. It comes against the backdrop of renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine, including heavy damage in Kyiv from large-scale missile and drone strikes.Ukrainian president’s spokesperson confirmed that Trump and Zelenskyy will call European leaders after meeting in Florida.On Saturday, Zelenskyy said on X that Russia used “almost 500 drones and 40 missiles” in its latest assault. He also wrote on Telegram, “Russia continues to mock our cities and people. Moscow has rejected even the proposals for a Christmas ceasefire and is increasing the ferocity of its missile and drone strikes. This is a clear signal of how they really feel about diplomacy… Therefore, Ukraine needs sufficient support. And sufficient pressure needs to be put on Russia.”Trump and Zelenskyy will meet at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, where the US president is spending the holidays. Trump has been trying to position himself as a mediator since beginning his second-stint in presidency, although previous talks, including one with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, ended without progress.Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is doing everything it can to end the war but stressed that final decisions depend on support from partners. “These are some of the most active diplomatic days of the year, and much can be resolved before the New Year, and we are doing everything for this, but whether there will be decisions depends on the partners,” he wrote on Telegram. He added that Ukraine’s allies must continue pressure on Moscow “so that the Russians feel the consequences of their own aggression.”Russia has increased strikes on Kyiv in the days leading up to the Florida talks. In another post on X, Zelenskyy said, “Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. We need to be strong at the negotiating table.” Responding to Russia’s attacks, he also wrote, “We want peace, and Russia demonstrates a desire to continue the war. If the whole world — Europe and America — is on our side, together we will stop” Putin.During a meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney in Halifax, Zelenskyy said that “pressure on Russia and sufficient, strong support for Ukraine” remain key to peace. Canada announced C$2.5 billion (US$1.8 billion) in new economic assistance.Carney called Russia’s latest strikes “barbarism” and said both Trump and Zelenskyy are helping create conditions for a “just and lasting peace.”
What to expect from the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
Zelenskyy has said the “20-point peace proposal” being discussed is “about 90% ready”, and negotiators hope major decisions can be taken soon. He said security guarantees and an “economic agreement” will be discussed, though he did not say “whether anything will be finalised by the end.” Ukraine will also raise “territorial issues,” including areas occupied by Russia and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.Zelenskyy has made clear that security guarantees are a top priority and depend on Trump, “what he is ready to give, when he is ready to give it, and for how long.”However, signs of tension remain. Trump recently told Politico he expected a “good” meeting but added, “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.” The comment highlighted strains in the relationship.The White House has been pushing heavily for a peace deal, and Trump has sometimes appeared closer to Russia’s position. After meeting Zelenskyy in October, Trump suggested both sides should “stop at the battle line,” which would allow Russia to keep the territory it has captured.Before Sunday’s meeting, Zelenskyy said unresolved issues include territory, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, funding for reconstruction, and technical matters like security guarantees and monitoring mechanisms.With Russia escalating attacks and Ukraine insisting on strong guarantees, the Florida meeting is expected to focus heavily on territory, security, and the final structure of a possible peace deal, but it remains unclear how much both sides will agree on. Go to Source
