Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy set to meet Trump in Florida for peace discussions as Russia escalates strikes
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump in Florida for negotiations on a strategy to conclude the conflict, following reports of new assaults in Ukraine. We are resuming our live updates on the Ukraine war, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to encounter Donald Trump for the latest diplomatic discussions in Florida at around 1:00pm (18:00 GMT). This meeting at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago estate marks their first in-person meeting since October, when Trump denied Zelenskyy’s appeal for long-range Tomahawk missiles. They will review a revised edition of a US-supported initiative aimed at ending the almost four-year conflict, which has not received backing from Russia. Two private residences ignited due to a Russian strike in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district on December 27, 2025. Photograph: Oleksandr Klymenko/Ukrinform/Shutterstock. In the lead-up to their meeting, Russia has heightened its assaults on Ukraine’s capital, deploying missiles and drones to attack Kyiv, thereby increasing pressure on Zelenskyy. This morning, Ukrainians awoke once more to news of strikes across various parts of the nation, including Kherson, where the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported that one woman was hurt following Russia’s “massive shelling.” Zelenskyy has emphasized that securing US security assurances is a priority for protecting Ukraine from further Russian hostilities. The discussions will likely concentrate significantly on the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power facility as well as the control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas area, a major hurdle in the ongoing negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) observes during a meeting with Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on October 17, 2025. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images. Moscow currently manages approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and nearly 99% of the adjacent Luhansk region, commonly referred to as Donbas. In a confidential meeting with Russia’s business elite last week, President Vladimir Putin reportedly reiterated his call for Ukraine to surrender the entire eastern Donbas region as part of any potential peace settlement. Regarding the critical issue of the region’s future, Zelenskyy, who has so far declined any territorial compromises, has proposed that a “free economic zone” could be a viable alternative. Moscow has consistently demanded that Ukraine cede all of the eastern Donbas region, including territories still held by Kyiv.
Published: 2025-12-28 10:29:00
source: www.theguardian.com
