Zelensky to Meet Trump on US-Brokered Peace Plan as Fighting Continues in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss a US-brokered 20-point peace plan and security guarantees. The plan includes proposals such as a demilitarised 'free economic zone' in parts of Donbas and a NATO-style Article 5 security guarantee, where Ukraine would maintain about 800,000 military personnel — a number the Kremlin has demanded be reduced.
The Kremlin has indicated that peace talks are ongoing, with Putin's senior aide recently holding further phone talks with US officials. Russia described the negotiation progress as slow but steady.
Zelensky's senior negotiator, Rustem Umerov, reported on Christmas Day that high-level talks with fresh ideas are expected before the New Year. The White House has proposed a demilitarised zone in eastern Ukraine where both sides would refrain from deploying troops to avoid disputes over legal ownership.
Central to the peace plan is a proposed 40km retreat from the frontline by Ukrainian forces, which Zelensky signalled would prompt a reciprocal withdrawal by Russia from Russian-occupied areas of Donbas. This proposal refines a previous 28-point draft peace plan by Steve Witkoff.
Despite ongoing negotiations, fighting continues with at least four fatalities since 25 December. Ukraine's air force reports shooting down 73 drones overnight and targeted oil and gas refineries in Rostov and Krasnodar. Russia claims to have intercepted projectiles, including Storm Shadow missiles.
