Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making final preparations for what he describes as "very important" negotiations with former US President Donald Trump, set against the grim backdrop of a devastating Russian air offensive on the capital Kyiv.
A Capital Under Fire Before Crucial Diplomacy
The diplomatic push comes after a "massive strike" by Russian forces on Kyiv in the early hours of Saturday, 27 December 2025. Ukrainian authorities reported that the assault, involving a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, killed at least two people and left more than thirty injured.
President Zelenskyy stated on Telegram that Russia launched nearly 500 drones and 40 missiles of various types in the attack. The strikes caused widespread power outages, with private energy company DTEK confirming around 500,000 families were left without electricity at the peak of the blackout.
While the Russian defence ministry claimed it targeted energy infrastructure linked to the Ukrainian military, Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that several residential buildings were also hit. Moscow framed the assault as retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on "civilian objects" inside Russia.
The Florida Summit: A 90% Ready Peace Framework
Amid the ongoing violence, President Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday. This meeting continues a series of discussions held throughout the year, including a recent White House encounter in October.
The Ukrainian leader has expressed hope that the talks will be "very constructive." The central item on the agenda is a detailed 20-point peace framework and security guarantee deal, which Zelenskyy revealed is "about 90% ready." He optimistically suggested that "a lot can be decided before the New Year."
The negotiations are expected to tackle some of the war's most intractable issues, including territorial disputes, the future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and the specifics of long-term security assurances for Ukraine.
International Support and Escalating Frontlines
In a show of solidarity ahead of the Trump meeting, Zelenskyy made a stop in Canada to confer with Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Canadian leader announced a significant new aid package, pledging an additional $2.5 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine. Carney condemned Russia's latest strikes on Kyiv as acts of "barbarism."
The aerial bombardment had ripple effects across the region. Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily shut two eastern airports as a precaution, though its military command confirmed no violation of Polish airspace occurred.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the Kremlin claimed its forces had captured one town in the Donetsk region and another in Zaporizhzhia—both heavily contested areas central to Russia's ambitions in eastern Ukraine. These battlefield reports could not be independently verified by Sky News.
Following his discussions with Donald Trump, President Zelenskyy is slated to hold further talks with European leaders, underscoring the international dimension of the diplomatic effort to end a conflict that will soon enter its fourth year.
