On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend. The two leaders are set to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and an economic agreement, with Zelenskyy noting that the 20-point plan under discussion is “about 90% ready.” He also said Ukraine would raise territorial issues and expressed a desire for European involvement, though he doubted short-notice participation.
Meeting Context
The announcement follows a broader U.S. diplomatic effort to end the nearly four-year Russia-Ukraine war. Zelenskyy had a “good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Thursday, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Kremlin had already been in contact with U.S. representatives since Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev met U.S. envoys in Florida. “It was agreed upon to continue the dialogue,” Peskov told reporters.
Ukraine’s Conditions
Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that he would be willing to withdraw troops from Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end the war, provided Russia also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. He emphasized that Ukraine would like Europe to be present in any future format that includes the U.S., saying: “We must, without doubt, find some format in the near future in which not only Ukraine and the U.S. are present, but Europe is represented as well.”
Russian Stance
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that there had been “slow but steady progress” in the peace talks, yet Russia has given no indication that it will agree to any withdrawal from land it has seized. Moscow insists that Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas, an ultimatum that Ukraine has rejected. Russia has captured most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk.
Recent Military Actions
- A guided aerial bomb struck a house in Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and wounding three.
- Six people were wounded in a missile strike on the city of Uman.
- Russian drone attacks on Mykolaiv left part of the city without power, while drones damaged energy and port infrastructure in Odesa.
- Ukraine struck a major Russian oil refinery in Rostov-on-Don using U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The General Staff reported multiple explosions at the Novoshakhtinsk refinery. Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar said a firefighter was wounded while extinguishing the fire.
Key Takeaways
- Zelenskyy will meet Trump in Florida to discuss security guarantees and an economic agreement.
- The 20-point plan is roughly 90% ready, and territorial issues will be raised.
- Ukraine seeks European participation but doubts short-notice inclusion.
- Russia has not agreed to withdrawal and demands Ukraine surrender remaining Donbas territory.
- Recent attacks highlight ongoing conflict, with Ukraine targeting Russian refineries to cut oil export revenue.
The meeting underscores the complex diplomatic dance between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow as each side navigates conflicting demands amid the continuing war.
