Ukraine’s Zelenskyy plans U.S. trip for talks with President Trump

Bu Stefan J. Bos

Sources familiar with the matter said the talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump could happen as early as Sunday 27 December and focus on potential paths toward ending Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two. Zelenskyy has stressed that any discussion of sensitive issues, including possible territorial compromises, must take place at the level of heads of state. 

The Ukrainian leader said he was encouraged by recent contacts with U.S. officials, including talks with presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “Today we also spoke for nearly an hour with representatives of the President of the United States of America,” Zelenskyy said. “We spoke with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and it was truly a good conversation.”

The diplomatic efforts come as Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer from Russian attacks. Millions of Ukrainians spent Christmas without electricity after Russian strikes on energy infrastructure killed civilians and triggered widespread power outages, officials said. Ukrainian authorities explained that at least four people were killed and more than a dozen injured in attacks across several regions, including Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Odesa.

Despite diplomatic efforts, the continued clashes underscore concerns that the war — which analysts estimate has killed or wounded more than one million people — remains far from over.