LONDON — President Donald Trump mentioned that he simply had a “good and really productive phone name” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, shortly earlier than Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ready to satisfy in Florida Sunday.
“I simply had a very good and really productive phone name with President Putin of Russia previous to my assembly, at 1:00 P.M. right this moment, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine,” Trump wrote on social media, partly.
The Kremlin later confirmed that the decision had taken place, in accordance with Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.
The peace talks are scheduled to happen within the wake of Russia’s launch of dozens of drones into Ukraine in a single day, the air pressure in Kyiv mentioned.
Ukraine’s air pressure reported 48 Russian drones fired into the nation from Saturday evening into Sunday morning, of which 30 had been shot down or suppressed. Eighteen drones impacted throughout 9 places, the air pressure mentioned.
The newest barrage caps an intense week of long-range Russian assaults, during which not less than 1,810 drones and missiles have been fired, in accordance with Ukrainian air pressure knowledge analyzed by ABC Information.
Saturday evening’s strikes got here after Zelenskyy arrived in North America for additional talks on a possible deal to finish Russia’s full-scale invasion, which started in February 2022.
This {photograph} exhibits automobiles with headlights driving down a non-illuminated street throughout an influence outage in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Dec. 27, 2025.
Roman Pilipey/AFP through Getty Pictures
Zelenskyy met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday. On Sunday, Zelenskyy is because of meet Trump on the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Seashore, Florida.
Zelenskyy posted on X Sunday morning that “this week alone,” Russia “launched over 2,100 assault drones, round 800 guided aerial bombs, and 94 missiles of varied sorts” towards Ukraine.
“These are a number of the most energetic diplomatic days of the 12 months proper now, and lots will be determined earlier than the New 12 months,” Zelenskyy additional wrote, partly. “We’re doing every part towards this, however whether or not choices might be made will depend on our companions – those that assist Ukraine, and people who put strain on Russia in order that Russians really feel the implications of their very own aggression.”
Zelenskyy advised journalists in a WhatsApp chat on Saturday that Ukraine can solely transfer towards peace if there are robust, authorized safety ensures from the U.S. and Europe. Ukraine has agreed to “many various compromises,” Zelenskyy added, stressing that these solely make sense if the nation is totally protected against the day after a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy mentioned the success of the continuing talks will depend on the continued assist of Western allies. “If the entire world — Europe and America — is on our aspect, collectively we’ll cease Putin,” he mentioned. “If anybody — whether or not the U.S. or Europe — is on Russia’s aspect, this implies the conflict will proceed.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the meantime, claimed Saturday the West is providing Ukraine favorable situations on safety, reconstruction and relations with Russia, however instructed that Kyiv doesn’t desire a peaceable settlement.
In remarks made throughout a go to to a army command submit, Putin mentioned Russia will obtain its targets by army means if Ukraine’s management doesn’t conform to a peace deal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives in Halifax, Canada, on, Dec. 27, 2025.
Riley Smith/AP
Zelenskyy has likewise been skeptical of Putin’s supposed readiness to finish Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy described Moscow’s large mixed missile and drone strike in a single day on Friday because the Russian chief’s “reply to peace.”
On Saturday, Zelenskyy mentioned Russia’s continued assaults present “the actual perspective of Putin and his entourage. They do not need to finish the conflict and try to make use of each alternative to inflict extra ache on Ukraine and improve their strain on others on the earth.”
Ukraine continued its personal long-range strike marketing campaign towards Russia into Sunday morning. Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned its forces downed not less than 25 Ukrainian drones in a single day.
Momentary flight restrictions had been launched at airports in Samara, Ulyanovsk, Penza, Yaroslavl and Kaluga, Russia’s federal air transport company — Rosaviatsiya — reported.
