The BareStory
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday to discuss a potential peace agreement to end the nearly four-year war with Russia. The meeting comes as both countries have engaged in a recent escalation of long-range aerial attacks.
Ahead of the talks, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 48 drones into the country overnight Saturday into Sunday, stating that 30 were intercepted while 18 hit targets in nine locations. An assault on Kyiv over the weekend left at least one person dead and 27 injured, according to local authorities. For its part, Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces downed at least 25 Ukrainian drones overnight. Russia’s federal air transport agency also reported temporary flight restrictions at several airports due to the Ukrainian strikes.
Zelenskyy, who met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday, has stated that Ukraine will do "whatever it takes" to end the war but must be strong at the negotiating table, which he said requires continued support from the U.S. and Europe. He has described recent Russian attacks as demonstrating that Moscow does not want a peaceful settlement. President Trump stated on Friday that he will have the final say on any potential peace deal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Russia will achieve its objectives through military means if a peace agreement is not reached. According to a statement attributed to Zelenskyy, a draft peace proposal is "about 90% ready," though he noted that sensitive issues, including territory, remain unresolved. Zelenskyy also said he was prepared to drop Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership if the country receives strong security guarantees. A Kremlin spokesman confirmed that Russia has been in contact with the U.S. and agreed to continue dialogue.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• A peace agreement could alter the level of U.S. support for Ukraine, potentially affecting government spending and foreign policy commitments.
• A potential peace deal might involve new U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, creating long-term foreign policy and military obligations for the United States.
• The outcome of the talks, where the U.S. President has the final say, could define the future of American diplomatic involvement in the region.
