Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to take place “in the near future,” signaling progress in diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to statements on ABCnews. Zelenskyy confirmed the upcoming high-level discussion in a post on X, emphasizing that Ukraine is moving without delay and aiming for potential decisions before the New Year.
The announcement follows Zelenskyy’s remarks on Thursday regarding a “good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Trump has launched an extensive diplomatic initiative to resolve the conflict, but his efforts face challenges due to sharply diverging demands from Moscow and Kyiv.
Zelenskyy indicated earlier that he would consider withdrawing Ukrainian forces from the eastern industrial regions as part of a peace plan, provided Russia reciprocates by pulling back and the area is established as a demilitarized zone under international supervision. Despite this, Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, have noted only “slow but steady progress” in negotiations, without committing to any withdrawal from occupied territories. Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine relinquish remaining areas in the Donbas, which Ukraine has firmly rejected. Currently, Russia controls most of Luhansk and approximately 70% of Donetsk.
Meanwhile, Russian drone attacks targeted the city of Mykolaiv and its suburbs overnight into Friday, leaving parts of the city without electricity. Ukraine also reported a strike on the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region on Thursday, using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed multiple explosions at the facility, stating on Telegram that the target was successfully hit. Rostov regional governor Yuri Slyusar reported that one firefighter was injured while extinguishing the resulting fire.
Ukraine has carried out long-range strikes on Russian refineries to cut off oil export revenues that fund Moscow’s military operations. Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, including power grids, are intended to deprive civilians of heat, electricity, and water, actions Kyiv officials describe as an attempt to “weaponize winter.”
Earlier we wrote that Trump Announces US Strike on ISIS in Nigeria, Defense Secretary Promises More Action.
