Donald Trump is slated to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday amid efforts to end the invasion of Ukraine. The US President also insisted that things were “going to go good” with Vladimir Putin — adding that he planned to speak with the Russian leader “soon and as much as I want”. The remarks came even as Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine faced a massive attack with officials urging people to remain inside shelters as explosions rang out. Meanwhile Zelenskyy told journalists that a 20-point peace plan under discussion was “about 90% ready”.
“He doesn’t have anything until I approve it. So we’ll see what he’s got…I have Zelenskyy and I have Bibi coming. They’re all coming. They all come. They respect our country again,” Trump told Politico during an interview on Friday.
He also teased the possibility of talks with his Russian counterpart “soon” and opined that the interaction would go well. Zelenskyy had indicated that the meeting with Trump would focus on ironing out a deal to end nearly four years of war.
The POTUS has repeatedly insisted that any peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia would require his approval.
Ukraine faces massive Russian attack
Russia attacked Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine with missiles and drones on Saturday — mere hours before the key meeting. Explosions sounded in Kyiv as Ukraine’s air defence units went into action, and the military said on the Telegram messaging app that missiles were being deployed. The air force said Russian drones were targeting the capital and regions in the northeast and south.An air raid alert remained in effect in the capital some four hours after being introduced. There were no immediate reports of damage or power cuts.
Tussle over territory?
Russia struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and stepped up attacks on the southern region of Odesa — the site of Ukraine’s main seaports — earlier this week.Amid the continued fierce fighting, territory remains the main diplomatic stumbling block. A 20-point draft in the US-driven campaign to clinch a peace plan is 90% complete, Zelensky told journalists in Kyiv.
He said a security guarantee agreement between Ukraine and the US was almost ready – a key element after guarantees in earlier post-Soviet years proved meaningless.
“A lot can be decided before the New Year,” Zelensky posted on social media.
Trump said the United States was the driving force behind the process.