Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is en route to a critical meeting with US President Donald Trump, following a severe overnight bombardment of Kyiv by Russian forces that he says reveals Vladimir Putin's "true attitude" towards peace.
Massive Russian Barrage Precedes Crucial Summit
The Ukrainian leader's flight to Trump's Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, comes after Russia launched a devastating wave of attacks on Saturday 27 December. Almost 500 drones and 40 missiles targeted Kyiv and regions in the North East and South of Ukraine. This assault marks the second major aerial offensive in less than a week, following a strike on Tuesday that involved 587 drones and 34 missiles.
The attack on the capital continued through Saturday morning, with a nearly ten-hour air raid alert only ending at 11.20am local time. Authorities confirmed that two people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region, with at least 46 others wounded, including two children. The assault left a third of the city without heating in sub-zero temperatures.
Mar-a-Lago Talks to Focus on Security and Territory
President Zelensky departed for the United States on Saturday afternoon, stopping in Canada to meet with close ally Prime Minister Mark Carney. The summit with President Trump on Sunday is expected to centre on the 20-point peace plan draft, which Zelensky stated is 90% complete. Key sticking points include security guarantees for Ukraine and the contentious territorial issues in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Before boarding his plane, Zelensky condemned the latest Russian strikes in a post on X. "Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and 'shaheds' [drones] speak for them," he wrote. "This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle. They do not want to end the war."
Compromises and Red Lines on the Table
The negotiations face significant hurdles. Moscow demands Ukraine withdraw from a large, urbanised part of Donetsk that Russian troops have failed to capture, while Kyiv insists fighting should stop at the current front lines. A proposed US compromise involves creating a free economic zone if Ukrainian troops pull back from parts of Donetsk, though details remain unclear.
Zelensky has emphasised that the shape of US security guarantees is crucial, stating they depend on what Trump is "ready to give, when he is ready to give it, and for how long." He revealed the US had offered a 15-year deal, subject to renewal, but Kyiv seeks a longer, legally binding agreement to guard against future Russian aggression.
If unable to secure US support on territorial terms, Zelensky has said he is willing to put the entire peace plan to a national referendum. This would require Russia to agree to a 60-day ceasefire to allow Ukraine to prepare and hold the vote.
Ahead of the meeting, President Trump asserted the US role as the driving force behind the peace process, telling Politico, "He doesn't have anything until I approve it. So we'll see what he's got." The US President also indicated he expects to speak with Vladimir Putin "soon, as much as I want."
