Zelenskyy Says Trump Meeting Planned Amid Peace Talks/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans for a near-future meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia intensify. Zelenskyy signaled flexibility on troop withdrawal if Russia agrees to do the same. Meanwhile, deadly attacks continue across Ukraine as Kyiv targets key Russian infrastructure.
Ukraine Peace Push: Zelenskyy-Trump Meeting Quick Looks
- Zelenskyy confirmed upcoming high-level meeting with Trump amid peace efforts
- Meeting follows talks with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
- Ukraine signals willingness to demilitarize eastern region under international monitoring
- Russia demands full control of Donbas, resists withdrawal from seized territories
- Airstrikes continue: Uman, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia hit by Russian attacks
- Ukraine strikes Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery using Storm Shadow missiles
- Kyiv aims to weaken Russia’s war chest by targeting energy exports
- Russian attacks damage Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, escalate winter hardship
Deep Look: Zelenskyy Confirms Upcoming Trump Meeting as Ukraine Seeks War Resolution
KYIV, Ukraine (Dec. 26, 2025) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday that a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is expected “in the near future,” suggesting momentum in negotiations to end the ongoing war with Russia, now entering its fourth year.
“We are not losing a single day. We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level — with President Trump in the near future,” Zelenskyy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“A lot can be decided before the New Year,” he added.
The statement follows a recent conversation Zelenskyy held with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushnersignaling that the Trump camp is playing a hands-on role in diplomatic outreach.
Peace Talks: Tentative Progress, Complex Obstacles
Trump has been actively pushing for a resolution to the conflict, though peace efforts remain hindered by irreconcilable demands from both Kyiv and Moscow. In a significant overture, Zelenskyy recently said Ukraine would consider withdrawing troops from the contested Donbas region if Russia agrees to a simultaneous pullbacktransforming the area into a demilitarized zone monitored by international observers.
Still, Russian officials have been resistant. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova acknowledged “slow but steady progress” in negotiations but offered no indication that Moscow would retreat from seized Ukrainian territories.
In fact, the Kremlin continues to demand that Ukraine surrender its remaining holdings in the Donbaswhich includes Luhansk and Donetsk. Russia currently controls the majority of Luhansk and approximately 70% of Donetsk.
Ongoing Conflict: Attacks and Counterstrikes
While diplomacy plays out, the battlefield remains active and lethal. On Friday:
- One civilian was killed and three injured when a Russian guided aerial bomb hit a residential area in Zaporizhzhia region.
- In Umana missile strike wounded six peopledamaging multiple buildings.
- Overnight drone assaults on Mykolaiv and its surrounding areas cut off power to parts of the city.
- In Odessadrones targeted and damaged port and energy infrastructure, underscoring Russia’s continued push to cripple Ukraine’s critical services as winter deepens.
These attacks are part of Russia’s broader strategy to “weaponize winter”according to Kyiv officials, by destroying civilian access to electricity, heating, and clean water.
Ukraine’s Counteroffensive: Hitting Russian Oil Supply
In a strategic blow to Russia’s war economy, Ukraine confirmed that it had launched long-range missile strikes on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.
Ukraine’s General Staff reported “multiple explosions” at the site and confirmed that the target was hit. Local Russian authorities later said a firefighter was injured while responding to the blaze.
These strikes are part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to disrupt Russia’s ability to fund its war by targeting the oil and energy sectors that provide significant export revenue.
Looking Ahead: What’s at Stake in a Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting
The anticipated Zelenskyy-Trump summit could be pivotal for Ukraine’s negotiating position. Trump, who has voiced interest in brokering an end to the war, may serve as a crucial bridge to de-escalation — though critics warn his prior sympathetic stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin could influence outcomes.
Zelenskyy’s government appears to be walking a diplomatic tightrope: remaining open to compromise while refusing any settlement that concedes Ukrainian sovereignty.
With both sides maintaining firm positions, and continued battlefield developments, the next few weeks may determine whether peace is possible or the war continues into a fifth year.
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