Zelenskyy and Trump face serious differences over peace plan – Reuters

The agency recalled that on the night of Saturday, December 27, Russia attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Zelenskyy described the attack as Moscow’s response to peace talks being mediated by the United States.

The Ukrainian president told journalists that during his meeting with Trump, he plans to discuss the future of Donbas, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and other issues.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine hand over the entire Donbas region, including territories that remain under the control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Russian officials have also objected to other parts of the latest proposal.

According to Reuters, this raises doubts about whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin would accept the outcome of the Florida talks.

Earlier, Zelenskyy said he hopes to soften the US proposal calling for the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas. Otherwise, the Ukrainian leader said, the 20-point peace plan — the result of lengthy negotiations — would have to be put to a referendum.

The Zelenskyy–Trump meeting in Florida follows prolonged diplomatic efforts. European allies, who at times were sidelined from the process, have stepped up efforts to define the framework for postwar security guarantees for Kyiv that would be backed by the United States.

Kyiv and Washington have agreed on many issues, and the 20-point plan is 90% ready. However, the territorial question remains unresolved.

Zelenskyy, whose previous meetings with Trump have not always gone smoothly, shares European leaders’ concerns that Trump could betray Ukraine, leaving European countries to foot the bill for supporting a war-ravaged nation.

Reuters also notes that on December 19, Putin said any peace deal must be based on the terms he put forward in 2024: the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all territories of Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO.

Ukrainian officials and European leaders warn that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, it could later attack NATO member states.

Zelenskyy–Trump meeting

As a reminder, today, December 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with US President Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

According to media reports, Zelenskyy plans to resolve key disagreements over the draft peace agreement during the meeting with Trump.

Zelenskyy has pledged that he will definitely raise territorial issues during the talks.

According to the Ukrainian president, he will discuss both Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with Trump. European partners will also join the meeting online.

It should be added that Zelenskyy has already arrived in the United States for the meeting with Trump, which is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Kyiv time.