Ukraine’s president says a meeting with President Trump is imminent as talks to end the war advance, while Russia’s drone attacks and Ukraine’s counter-strikes intensify.
Zelenskyy Announces Trump Meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that a high-level meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump will take place “in the near future.” He wrote, “We are not losing a single day. We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future.” He added, “A lot can be decided before the New Year.”
Withdrawal Offer and Russian Stance
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy said he would be willing to pull Ukrainian troops from the eastern industrial heartland if Moscow does the same and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described the peace talks as “slow but steady progress,” but Russia has not signaled any intention to withdraw from the land it has seized. Moscow insists Ukraine relinquish the remaining territory it still holds in the Donbas-an ultimatum Ukraine has rejected. Russia now controls most of Luhansk and about 70% of Donetsk.
Recent Attacks and Counter-Strikes
On Friday, a guided aerial bomb struck a house in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, killing one person and wounding three others. Overnight, Russian drone attacks on Mykolaiv and its suburbs left part of the city without power, while drones damaged energy and port infrastructure in Odesa.
Ukraine said it struck a major Russian oil refinery on Thursday with British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. The Ukrainian General Staff announced on Telegram that its forces hit the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in Russia’s Rostov region, noting, “Multiple explosions were recorded. The target was hit.” Rostov regional Governor Yuri Slyusar reported a firefighter was wounded while extinguishing the fire.
Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian refineries aim to deprive Moscow of the oil export revenue needed for its invasion. Russia, meanwhile, seeks to cripple the Ukrainian power grid to deny civilians heat, light, and water-a tactic Kyiv officials say is an attempt to “weaponize winter.”
Key Takeaways
- Zelenskyy confirms a forthcoming meeting with President Trump, hoping to accelerate peace talks.
- Ukraine offers troop withdrawal from the east if Russia reciprocates and a demilitarized zone is established.
- Russian drone attacks continue to target Ukrainian cities, while Ukraine retaliates with strikes on Russian refineries.
The situation remains tense as both sides pursue military and diplomatic strategies amid ongoing conflict.
