A telephone conversation between the presidents of the United States and Ukraine, along with European leaders, will take place on 27 December—ahead of the in-person meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, Reuters reported.
The European Union has repeatedly insisted that no peace in Europe could be negotiated without European participation
Before their meeting in Florida, Trump and Zelenskyy will hold a phone call on Saturday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders will also participate, according to a European Commission spokesperson. The specific leaders have not been identified.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed earlier that he will meet with his American counterpart Donald Trump on 28 December.
The call comes as Russia launched missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian regions. Explosions sounded in the capital as air defense units responded, and the military reported missile deployments via Telegram. At least eight people were wounded in Kyiv, according to city authorities.
The attacks prompted temporary closures of Rzeszow and Lublin airports in southeastern Poland after Polish armed forces scrambled fighter jets, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency posted on X.
Zelenskyy told journalists in Kyiv that a 20-point draft in the US-driven peace campaign is 90% complete. "A lot can be decided before the New Year," Zelenskyy posted on social media.
Territory remains the main diplomatic obstacle. Zelenskyy said talks would focus on which areas each side will control after a halt to fighting that began with Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Trump told Politico he expects the meeting to "go well" but warned: "He doesn't have anything until I approve it. So we'll see what he's got."
The US offered Ukraine a 15-year security guarantee deal, subject to renewal, Zelenskyy told Axios. Kyiv wants a longer agreement with legally binding provisions against further Russian aggression. Zelenskyy said a security guarantee agreement between Ukraine and the US was almost ready.
Control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station—Europe's largest, seized by Russia in early 2022—remains a critical issue. Moscow demands Ukraine withdraw from unoccupied areas of Donetsk Oblast. Kyiv wants fighting halted at current lines.
Under a US compromise proposal, a free economic zone would be established if Ukraine leaves parts of Donetsk, though details remain unclear.
Zelenskyy told Axios that if he cannot push the US to back Ukraine's position on territory, he would put the 20-point plan to a referendum—provided Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire for preparations.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Kyiv's version of the plan differs from what Russia discussed with the US, Interfax-Russia reported. However, he expressed optimism that matters had reached a "turning point."
The Kremlin said on 26 December that Putin's foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov spoke with Trump administration members after Moscow received US peace proposals, without disclosing Moscow's response.
Trump said he expects to speak with Putin "soon, as much as I want."
European officials privately expect a positive outcome from the upcoming meeting between the US and Ukrainian presidents but are preparing for unpredictable scenarios, according to European Truth.
