Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet former US President Donald Trump in Florida for a pivotal round of diplomatic discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The talks, scheduled for around 1:00 PM local time (18:00 GMT) at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, come as Russia launches a fresh wave of attacks on Ukrainian territory.
High-Stakes Diplomacy at Mar-a-Lago
This face-to-face meeting marks the first between the two leaders since October 2025, when Trump, during his previous presidency, declined a Ukrainian request for long-range Tomahawk missiles. The central item on the agenda is an updated version of a US-mediated plan to conclude the nearly four-year conflict, a proposal that Russia has not yet endorsed.
The discussions are expected to focus heavily on two major sticking points: the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the future status of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Securing long-term US security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression remains Zelenskyy's stated priority.
Escalating Violence as Talks Loom
In the days leading up to the high-profile meeting, Russia has significantly intensified its military pressure. Missile and drone assaults have targeted the capital, Kyiv, in what appears to be an attempt to weaken Zelenskyy's position ahead of the negotiations.
This morning, further attacks were reported across Ukraine, including in the southern region of Kherson. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine confirmed that one woman was injured during what it described as "massive shelling" by Russian forces.
The Donbas Impasse
The dispute over the Donbas region continues to be a formidable obstacle to peace. Moscow currently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and 99% of Luhansk. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently reiterated at a closed-door meeting with business leaders that Ukraine must cede the entire eastern Donbas as a condition for any deal.
President Zelenskyy, who has consistently rejected outright territorial concessions, has previously floated the idea of establishing a "free economic zone" in the region as a potential compromise. However, Moscow insists on a full Ukrainian withdrawal from all areas of Donbas, including those still under Kyiv's control.
The outcome of the Florida summit could prove crucial in determining whether a viable path to peace can be charted, even as the violence on the ground shows no sign of abating.
