KYIV, Dec 27 (GeokHub) Russia launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and multiple regions of Ukraine on Saturday, hours before President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was due to hold what he described as a pivotal meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending nearly four years of war.
Explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital as air defence systems were activated, with the military reporting incoming missiles and swarms of Russian drones targeting Kyiv as well as northeastern and southern regions. At least eight people were wounded, city authorities said, while air raid alerts remained in force into the morning.
The strikes came just ahead of Zelenskiy’s planned talks in Florida, which he said would focus heavily on territorial control after a potential ceasefire, the most contentious issue in negotiations since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 — Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.
Regional Fallout as Fighting Intensifies
The Russian assault had spillover effects beyond Ukraine’s borders. Poland temporarily closed Rzeszow and Lublin airports near Ukraine after scrambling fighter jets in response to the strikes, Polish aviation authorities said.
Russia did not immediately comment on Saturday’s attacks. Earlier this week, Moscow hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and intensified strikes on the southern port region of Odesa, a critical hub for Ukrainian exports.
Peace Talks Nearing a Crucial Stage
Despite the fighting, Zelenskiy said diplomatic efforts were approaching a decisive moment. He told reporters that a 20-point, U.S.-driven peace framework was about 90% complete, and that a separate U.S.-Ukraine security guarantee agreement was nearly finalised — a priority for Kyiv after past assurances proved ineffective.
“A lot can be decided before the New Year,” Zelenskiy said in a social media post.
Trump said the United States was leading the process, telling Politico:
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got.”
Before their in-person meeting, Trump and Zelenskiy were scheduled to hold a call on Saturday alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders, according to EU officials.
Zelenskiy told Axios that Washington had proposed a 15-year security guarantee, renewable at a later stage, but Kyiv was pushing for a longer, legally binding deal to deter future Russian aggression.
Territory and Nuclear Power at the Center of Dispute
Control of land remains the biggest obstacle. Moscow insists Ukraine withdraw from areas of Donetsk still outside Russian control as part of its bid to dominate the Donbas region. Kyiv wants any ceasefire to freeze fighting along current front lines.
Another flashpoint is the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, which Russian forces seized early in the war and which remains a major strategic and safety concern.
Under one U.S. compromise proposal, a free economic zone could be created if Ukraine cedes parts of Donetsk, though details remain unresolved.
Zelenskiy said that if he fails to secure strong U.S. backing on territorial issues, he would consider putting the peace plan to a national referendum, provided Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire to allow preparations for a vote.
Signals from Moscow
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Kyiv’s version of the peace plan differed from proposals Russia had discussed with Washington, but he suggested talks had reached a potential “turning point.”
The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, had spoken with members of the Trump administration after Moscow received U.S. proposals for a settlement, though it declined to say how Russia viewed them.
