Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is preparing for a critical meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday in Florida, focusing on the security guarantees Ukraine can secure as both Kyiv and Washington work to end Russia’s nearly four-year war.
Recent attacks highlight the urgency: overnight, Russia launched about 40 missiles and nearly 500 drones at Kyiv, leaving large areas without power and killing at least one civilian. Zelenskyy described this as evidence of why ironclad international security guarantees are needed before Ukraine can consider disarmament.
“It is very important for us that there is a signal that we want legally binding security guarantees. And this depends primarily on President Trump,” Zelenskyy told reporters.
Zelenskyy will stop in Canada on Saturday to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney, and will speak online with European leaders to review key issues. He plans to bring a 20-point peace plan to the Florida talks, which includes a demilitarized zone, and expects discussions on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the Donbas region.
Trump, however, expressed skepticism:
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it,” he said in a Friday interview with Politico.
Zelenskyy also rejected Trump’s proposal for new elections in Ukraine, citing the risk of Russian interference. He emphasized that while Ukraine is politically ready, elections must be legally secure and internationally recognized, with security guarantees in place.
