Zelensky Announces Impending Meeting with Trump Amid Escalating Tensions and Diplomatic Maneuvering

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially confirmed on Friday, December 26, 2025, that arrangements have been finalized for a high-level summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in the very near future. This significant announcement arrived as diplomatic negotiations have intensified, with the Ukrainian leader suggesting that a great deal could be settled before the New Year. Kyiv’s diplomatic endeavors are intensely focused on rapidly solidifying the details of a peace settlement, underscoring the critical urgency of the present juncture.

This planned summit follows a crucial discussion held the day prior, on December 25, between President Zelensky and American envoys, specifically Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. That nearly hour-long conversation was characterized as "very positive." During the exchange, participants delved into "some substantial details of the ongoing work" and shared "excellent concepts that could lead to a mutual outcome and lasting peace." Rustem Umerov, the Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), who also engaged with the U.S. team, continued follow-up discussions later that same day.

According to diplomatic sources, the potential venue for this leaders’ summit, which might take place as early as December 28, is rumored to be Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. The level of specificity in the current round of talks is reportedly higher than in previous stages, as noted by an unnamed European official involved in coordination efforts. However, several sticking points remain fiercely debated, including security guarantees, enforcement mechanisms for any agreements, and Russia’s legal obligations.

This diplomatic push is running parallel to continued intense military action, suggesting a strategy of applying maximum pressure on all fronts. During the night leading into December 26, Russian unmanned aerial vehicles targeted the city of Mykolaiv, resulting in partial disruptions to the local power grid. This on-the-ground reality underscores the high stakes of the diplomatic track.

In direct response, the Ukrainian General Staff reported launching a long-range strike against the Novoshakhtinsk Oil Refinery (NOR) in Russia’s Rostov region, utilizing Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The Novoshakhtinsk refinery, recognized as one of the largest in Southern Russia with a design capacity reaching 7.5 million tons of oil annually, supplies diesel fuel and aviation kerosene essential for the Russian military. Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar confirmed the explosions, adding that one firefighter sustained injuries while battling the resulting blaze.

The fundamental issue of territorial integrity remains unresolved within the negotiation framework, which has been ongoing for nearly four years. President Zelensky previously unveiled his comprehensive 20-point peace proposal, which incorporates security assurances akin to NATO’s Article 5 and a freeze along the current line of contact. Conversely, Russian state media, citing Kommersant, reported that Vladimir Putin, during a closed meeting with business leaders on December 24, reaffirmed Russia's insistence on complete control over the entire Donbas region, stating emphatically, "The Donbas is ours," and making it clear that the Kramatorsk-Konstantinovka-Sloviansk hub is non-negotiable. Nevertheless, Moscow has signaled a willingness to consider a partial territorial exchange, echoing understandings reached in prior Anchorage agreements.

The Russian side is also expressing a cautious sense of optimism regarding the dialogue. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova observed "slow but steady progress" in talks with the United States, urging Washington to actively counter European attempts to "torpedo" the process. Meanwhile, both Kyiv and Washington view the current draft peace plan as merely a starting point. December’s diplomatic efforts have spanned two days of consultations in Berlin involving European stakeholders, alongside ongoing contacts between Russian and American representatives aimed at securing a breakthrough before the calendar year concludes.