Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to take place “in the near future,” raising cautious expectations that renewed diplomatic efforts could influence the course of the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia. Writing on X on Friday, Zelenskyy said the two leaders had agreed on a high-level meeting and emphasized the urgency of the moment. “We are not losing a single day,” he wrote, adding that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.” His remarks came amid intensified international engagement led by Washin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to take place “in the near future,” raising cautious expectations that renewed diplomatic efforts could influence the course of the nearly four-year war between Ukraine and Russia. Writing on X on Friday, Zelenskyy said the two leaders had agreed on a high-level meeting and emphasized the urgency of the moment. “We are not losing a single day,” he wrote, adding that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.” His remarks came amid intensified international engagement led by Washington, as the Trump administration pushes for a negotiated end to the conflict. Zelenskyy’s statement followed what he described as a “good conversation” with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. While details of those discussions were not made public, the contacts suggest that back-channel diplomacy is accelerating as the White House seeks to bridge deep divisions between Kyiv and Moscow. Despite this momentum, the path to peace remains fraught. Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Ukraine could consider withdrawing troops from parts of its eastern industrial heartland as part of a broader settlement, provided Russia also pulls back and the territory becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. Russia, however, has shown little willingness to compromise. Moscow continues to insist that Ukraine relinquish the remaining areas it controls in the Donbas, a demand Kyiv has firmly rejected. Russia currently occupies most of Luhansk and roughly 70% of Donetsk. On the battlefield, the war shows no sign of easing. Ukrainian officials reported that a guided aerial bomb strike in the Zaporizhzhia region killed one person and wounded three others. Overnight drone attacks by Russia damaged energy and port infrastructure in Mykolaiv and Odesa, leaving parts of Mykolaiv without power. Ukraine, meanwhile, says it struck back hard. Its General Staff reported hitting the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, with multiple explosions recorded. Russian authorities confirmed a fire at the site and said a firefighter was wounded while responding. Kyiv says such strikes are aimed at undermining Russia’s oil export revenues, while accusing Moscow of trying to “weaponize winter” by targeting Ukraine’s power grid and civilian infrastructure. As diplomacy intensifies and fighting continues, Zelenskyy’s anticipated meeting with Trump is being closely watched — not as a guarantee of peace, but as a potential turning point in a war that has reshaped Europe’s security landscape. Source: Associated Press (AP)

A little more informed. A little more connected.