Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for discussions intended to resolve nearly four years of conflict with Russia. The meeting will include talks on a revised U.S.-brokered peace plan, which Russia has yet to endorse, and U.S. security guarantees. This session at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence comes after severe Russian attacks on Kyiv over the weekend, which Zelensky cited as proof that Moscow 'doesn't want peace'. On Friday night, a 10-hour missile and drone assault on Ukraine's capital resulted in two fatalities and injured 32 others, according to local authorities.
Additional Russian strikes were reported on Saturday night. In Florida, Zelensky is anticipated to discuss Ukraine's security assurances and territorial adjustments, both contentious issues previously unyielded by Russia. A 20-point peace plan, a streamlined version of an earlier 28-point proposal crafted by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, will also be on the agenda—it was previously perceived as too favorable to Russia. The control of Ukraine's eastern Donbas remains a significant hurdle, but Zelensky has suggested a 'free economic zone' as a possible solution. Presently, Russia holds about 75% of the Donetsk region and approximately 99% of Luhansk, collectively known as Donbas.
The Kremlin hasn't responded to Zelensky's suggestion to retract troops from eastern Donbas if Russia reciprocates. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin implied Ukraine is reluctant to resolve the dispute peacefully, as reported by the state-owned news agency Tass. Putin remarked that if Kyiv is unwilling to seek peace, Russia would achieve its goals through military means.
Zelensky has shown hopefulness regarding the new peace plan draft, calling it 'a foundational document on ending the war'. He told reporters on Friday that the plan is 90% complete, emphasizing the importance of finalizing it. Yet, in an interview with Politico, Trump cautioned that Zelensky lacks 'anything until I approve it'. Trump mentioned he anticipates reviewing the new draft on Sunday, expressing optimism the talks will go well with both Zelensky and Vladimir Putin. Zelensky, after discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, labeled Moscow's latest attack on Kyiv as 'Russia's answer [to] our peace efforts', asserting this indicates Putin's lack of interest in peace.
Zelensky also engaged European leaders to outline diplomatic 'priorities' before his meeting with Trump, urging for 'strong positions' to advance the plan. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Kyiv has the 'full support' of European and NATO leaders. Reports of gunfire and explosions were noted between Friday night and Saturday morning in Kyiv.