Zelenskyy to meet Trump in Florida amid diplomatic push to end war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Meet with US President Donald Trump in Florida

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in Florida on Sunday to discuss ongoing territorial disputes and efforts to broker a peace agreement. The talks are part of Washington’s intensified efforts to find a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated that the meeting could be decisive, citing the need for progress before the New Year. Territory remains a contentious issue in negotiations, with Zelenskyy confirming plans to discuss the status of eastern Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which has been under Russian control since the early months of Russia’s invasion.

Moscow has demanded that Kyiv withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control. However, Ukraine has rejected this demand, instead calling for an immediate halt to hostilities along existing front lines. The US has proposed establishing a free economic zone in exchange for Ukraine relinquishing control of the contested area, although details remain unclear.

Zelenskyy reiterated that any territorial concessions would require public approval and that decisions on land must be made by Ukrainians themselves, potentially through a referendum. Beyond territory, Zelenskyy will focus on refining draft agreements, including economic arrangements and security guarantees.

The US has nearly finalized a security pact with Ukraine, while a 20-point peace framework is close to completion. Ukrainian officials have sought binding guarantees after previous international commitments failed to prevent Russia’s invasion, which began in February 2022.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov accused Ukraine of working to “torpedo” the peace talks, stating that a revised US peace plan promoted by Kyiv is “radically different” from an earlier version negotiated with Washington. The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump will also involve European leaders participating remotely.

Source: Al Jazeera