Zelensky Signals Imminent Meeting With Trump as Ukraine War Talks Gain Momentum

The Zelensky Trump meeting could take place “in the near future,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, indicating fresh momentum in diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine.

In a post on X, Zelensky said leaders had agreed on talks “at the highest level” with US President Donald Trump. He added that crucial decisions could come before the New Year, raising expectations of movement on one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.

The statement comes as Washington intensifies its diplomatic push to bring both sides to the negotiating table.

Trump Pushes Peace, Faces Hard Choices

Since returning to office, Trump has launched a broad effort to end the war. His approach has focused on pressuring both Moscow and Kyiv to compromise, but the talks remain complicated by sharply opposing demands.

Ukraine wants security guarantees and the restoration of its territorial integrity. Russia insists on formal recognition of territory it has seized since the invasion began.

These competing positions have slowed progress, even as international pressure grows to halt the fighting and prevent further regional instability.

Zelensky Floats Conditional Troop Withdrawal

Earlier this week, Zelensky made a notable proposal. He said Ukraine could withdraw troops from parts of its eastern industrial heartland if Russia also pulled back and if the area became a demilitarized zone under international monitoring.

The proposal marked one of Kyiv’s clearest signals of flexibility since the war began. Ukrainian officials stressed, however, that any withdrawal would depend on strong enforcement mechanisms and security guarantees.

So far, Moscow has not embraced the idea.

Russia Holds Firm on Territorial Demands

Russia acknowledged limited progress in talks but showed no sign of softening its core demands. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said negotiations were moving “slowly but steadily,” yet Moscow continues to insist on Ukrainian concessions.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine give up the remaining territory it controls in the Donbas region. Kyiv has firmly rejected that ultimatum.

Russian forces currently control most of Luhansk and around 70 percent of Donetsk, the two regions that form the Donbas. Ukrainian leaders say surrendering more land would undermine sovereignty and invite future aggression.

Fighting Continues Despite Diplomacy

Even as leaders discuss peace, the war continues to rage on the ground. Overnight Russian drone attacks struck the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv and nearby suburbs, cutting power to parts of the city.

Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure as winter sets in. They say Russia aims to deprive civilians of heat, electricity, and water in an effort to weaken morale.

Kyiv has described this strategy as an attempt to “weaponize winter.”

Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Infrastructure

Ukraine has also stepped up long-range strikes inside Russia. On Thursday, Ukrainian forces targeted a major oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck the Novoshakhtinsk refinery, reporting multiple explosions and confirming a direct hit. The refinery plays a key role in supplying fuel to Russia’s southern regions.

Rostov Governor Yuri Slyusar said a firefighter suffered injuries while responding to the blaze.

Economic Warfare Intensifies

Kyiv views attacks on Russian energy infrastructure as a way to weaken Moscow’s ability to finance the war. Oil exports remain a major source of revenue for the Russian state.

By contrast, Russia has focused its strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, seeking to disrupt daily life and strain government resources.

Both sides continue to escalate pressure even as diplomats search for common ground.

High-Level Talks Could Shape Next Phase

A potential meeting between Zelensky and Trump could define the next phase of the conflict. Analysts say Washington’s role will prove decisive in shaping any agreement, particularly if the US links military aid and sanctions relief to progress at the negotiating table.

For now, expectations remain cautious. The battlefield remains active, demands stay far apart, and trust remains low.

Still, Zelensky’s statement suggests that behind the scenes, diplomacy has entered a more serious phase—one that could soon bring the war’s future into sharper focus.