Zelenskyy Heads to Florida for Trump Meeting on Ukraine Security Guarantees
Updated (2 articles)
Zelenskyy Schedules Florida Meeting with Trump Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will travel to Florida on Sunday to meet President Donald Trump and discuss security guarantees for Ukraine [1]. He said the 20‑point plan under negotiation is about 90 % complete, indicating substantial progress in the U.S.–led diplomatic push [1]. The meeting is positioned as a key step toward solidifying future assistance and strategic coordination [1].
Peace Framework and Troop Withdrawal Conditions Zelenskyy expressed hope of reaching a peace framework with Trump during the talks [1]. He indicated willingness to pull Ukrainian forces from the Donbas if Russia retreats and the region becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces [1]. This conditional withdrawal underscores Kyiv’s emphasis on security guarantees before any territorial concessions [1].
Kremlin Indicates Ongoing U.S. Dialogue Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow will continue dialogue with U.S. representatives after Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev met with American officials in Florida [1]. The statement signals Russia’s intent to stay engaged in parallel diplomatic tracks despite the Ukraine‑U.S. meeting [1]. It also reflects Moscow’s strategy of leveraging any U.S. negotiations to extract concessions [1].
Recent Military Incidents Highlight Ongoing Conflict A guided aerial bomb struck Zaporizhzhia, killing one civilian and wounding three, while six people were injured in Uman by separate attacks [1]. Russian drones damaged energy and port infrastructure in Mykolaiv and Odesa, showing continued pressure on Ukraine’s logistics [1]. These incidents illustrate that hostilities persist even as high‑level diplomatic overtures proceed [1].
Ukraine’s Long‑Range Drone Strikes Target Russian Refineries Ukraine reported striking the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s Rostov region with Storm Shadow missiles, wounding a firefighter during the blaze [1]. The operation aims to deprive Moscow of oil export revenue, a core element of Kyiv’s broader war strategy [1]. Analysts note that such strikes seek to erode Russia’s economic capacity while signaling Ukraine’s growing long‑range strike capability [1].
Timeline
Dec 7, 2025 – President Donald Trump publicly claims Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “isn’t ready” to sign the U.S.-authored peace proposal while three days of negotiations wrap up in Florida, underscoring a diplomatic impasse that could stall a U.S.-led settlement effort. He says Zelenskyy “still needs more time” despite ongoing talks aimed at narrowing gaps on the White House plan. [1]
Dec 7, 2025 – Ukrainian negotiators complete three days of talks in Florida with U.S. officials, focusing on the White House peace framework; they aim to close remaining gaps on issues such as Donbas territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. The talks are described as “substantive” and intended to bring both sides closer to an agreement. [1]
Dec 7, 2025 – After a substantive phone call with the negotiating team, Zelenskyy reiterates Ukraine’s “determination to keep working with the American side to genuinely achieve peace” and says he has received updates on the proposal, signaling continued Ukrainian engagement despite Trump’s criticism. [1]
Dec 7, 2025 – Russia welcomes the U.S. National Security Strategy, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating it “aligns with Moscow’s view on dialogue and cooperation regarding Ukraine,” indicating a rare moment of rhetorical convergence even as combat continues. [1]
Dec 7, 2025 – Russian missile, drone and shell attacks kill at least four civilians overnight, hit Chernihiv with a drone, and cause power and water outages in Kremenchuk, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian toll that pressures peace talks. [1]
Dec 7, 2025 – Former U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg identifies the Donbas battlefield and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as the “key remaining issues” for any deal, and notes his own departure from the post in January, suggesting a potential shift in U.S. diplomatic personnel. [1]
Dec 26, 2025 – Zelenskyy announces he will meet President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss Ukraine’s security guarantees, noting that the 20‑point peace plan is “about 90 % ready,” which marks a concrete step toward finalizing the U.S. proposal. [2]
Dec 26, 2025 – In the same briefing, Zelenskyy says he hopes to “agree on a peace framework” with Trump during the meeting, framing the talks as the centerpiece of a broader effort to end the war. [2]
Dec 26, 2025 – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Moscow will “continue the dialogue with U.S. representatives” after Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev meets U.S. envoys in Florida, indicating that Russia remains engaged in parallel negotiations. [2]
Dec 26, 2025 – Zelenskyy signals willingness to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the eastern industrial heartland if Russia retreats and the Donbas becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces, linking territorial concessions to security guarantees. [2]
Dec 26, 2025 – Separate combat incidents kill one civilian and wound three in Zaporizhzhia from a guided aerial bomb, wound six in Uman, and see Russian drones damage energy and port infrastructure in Mykolaiv and Odesa, underscoring the volatile security environment surrounding the diplomatic talks. [2]
Dec 26, 2025 – Ukraine strikes the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s Rostov region with Storm Shadow missiles, wounding a firefighter, as part of a campaign to “deprive Moscow of oil export revenue” while Russia seeks to cripple Ukraine’s power grid during winter. [2]