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Headline: Zelenskyy and Trump to Meet Amidst Conflicting Signals on Ukraine Peace Talks

Miami, FL – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday to discuss the ongoing war with Russia and potential pathways to peace. Zelenskyy has characterized recent negotiations as showing “significant progress,” while Moscow accuses Kyiv of attempting to sabotage a potential deal.

Territorial disputes remain a major sticking point. Zelenskyy plans to address the status of eastern Ukraine, specifically the Donbas region and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, currently under Russian control. Russia insists on Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of the Donetsk region, a demand Kyiv rejects, calling instead for a ceasefire along existing front lines.

Trump, who has positioned himself as a key figure in brokering any peace agreement, downplayed Zelenskyy’s initiatives without his approval. He told Politico, “He doesn’t have anything until I approve it.” Trump added that he anticipates speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon.”

The US has floated the idea of a free economic zone in exchange for Ukraine relinquishing control of contested territory. Zelenskyy emphasized that any territorial concessions would require public approval, potentially through a referendum. Discussions will also encompass economic arrangements and security guarantees, with a security pact with Washington reportedly nearing completion.

Despite Zelenskyy’s optimism, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov accused Ukraine of seeking to “torpedo” peace talks, claiming Kyiv’s revised US peace plan was “radically different” from earlier versions negotiated with Washington. Ryabkov insisted that any agreement must align with parameters set between Trump and Putin in August, a summit criticized as being too lenient towards Russia.

The meeting comes as Russia has intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the port city of Odesa. On Friday, an attack on Kharkiv resulted in two fatalities.

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