Saturday 27 / December / 2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he plans to meet with US President Donald Trump this Sunday in Florida.
Zelenskyy earlier posted to social media that a meeting would take place in the coming days (see below).
But Ukrainian media and others earlier reported a meeting between the two leaders was likely going to take place on Sunday, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Trump is spending his Christmas break there.
"This meeting is specifically for the purpose of finalizing everything as much as we can," Zelenskyy said.
Kyiv and Washington have worked up a 20-point peace plan that has been sent to Russia.
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump comes after a flurry of diplomatic activity last weekend in Miami.
Poland shuts two airports as Russia strikes Ukraine
Poland has temporarily closed two of its airports following an overnight Russian attack on Ukraine.
Operations were suspended on Saturday at the Rzeszow and Lublin airports in Poland’s southeast after Polish forces scrambled fighter aircrafts over the Russian strikes, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency said in a statement X.
Explosions heard in Kyiv amid reports of large-scale Russian attack
The Russian military has carried out a large-scale overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said in the early hours of Saturday.
"Explosions in the capital. Air defense forces are operating. Stay in shelters!" Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on Telegram.
Ukraine's air force activated a countrywide air raid alert, saying that drones and missiles were spotted over several regions in the country.
News agencies AFP and Reuters cited reporters on the ground as saying they heard loud explosions in the capital city.
The attack comes ahead of a weekend meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump, announced by Zelenskyy.
'Blood, life and death' embodied Russia, North Korea bond, Kim says
North Korea's Kim Jong Un said his country had shared "blood, life and death" with Russiaduring the course of the war in Ukraine.
In his new year's greetings to Russia President Vladimir Putin, Kim labeled 2025 as a "really meaningful year" for the relations between the two countries, which became even stronger due to them "sharing blood, life and death in the same trench."
Pyongyang sent troops to fight for Russia in its war in Ukraine, as well as sending artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.
Analysts say Moscow is in return providing North Korea with financial aid, military aid and food and energy supplies.
Merz, Zelenskyy reaffirm unity ahead of talks with Trump
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Ukrainethat Europe was "unwaveringly by your side" as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared for fresh talks in Washington on ending the war with Russia.
Merz commented on X after a phone call with the Ukrainian leader on Friday to discuss the next steps in the US-brokered peace plan.
"We stand unwaveringly by your side. A strong, coordinated European approach remains essential for peace, freedom, and security. The Berlin group is ready to help – closely coordinated with our US partners," Merz wrote.
Zelenskyy warns of new Russian attack threat from Belarus
Russia is increasingly using positions in Belarus for its attacks on Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
After talks with the entire military leadership on Friday, Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook that this included drone and missile attacks, which he said Moscow was using to bypass Ukraine's defensive lines.
"This is risky for Belarus," he wrote. "It is a pity that Belarus is surrendering its sovereignty to the benefit of Russian aggressive ambitions."
Zelenskyy said Russia had installed strike equipment on residential buildings in Belarus, which makes it difficult for Kyiv's military to mount a proactive defense.
"This is an absolute disregard for human life, Minsk should stop playing these games," he added.
Busy street comes under attack in Kharkiv, at least two killed
At least two people were killed and six others seriously injured after Russian guided bombs hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, city mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.
A busy street in the city came under attack, with one of the bombs having struck vehicles. That left people trapped in their burning cars.
Russia has pummeled Ukraine's second-largest city with drones and bombs since the start of the war in 2022. Most strikes hit civilian targets.
Russia says Ukraine trying to 'torpedo' talks amid rush of diplomatic activity
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused Ukraine of trying to "torpedo" talks on US plans, as Kyiv and Washington work through some of the remaining differences of a 20-point peace framework.
"Our ability to make the final push and reach an agreement will depend on our own work and the political will of the other party," Ryabkov said in comments to Russian state TV.
"Especially in a context where Kyiv and its sponsors — notably within the European Union, who are not in favour of an agreement — have stepped up efforts to torpedo it," he added.
Canada's PM Carney speaks with Zelenskyy
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday and discussed the latest developments in ongoing peace talks, Carney's office said in a statement.
"The Prime Minister affirmed Canada's commitment to Ukraine throughout these negotiations and emphasized the need to maintain pressure on Russia to negotiate," the statement said.
Zelenskyy is set to meet with Trump in Florida this weekend. Earlier this week, he provided details about the 20-point plan that was agreed upon by US and Ukrainian envoys in Florida last weekend.
But some unresolved issues, including the nature and scope of security guarantees for Ukraine and the fate of the territories that Russia claims, remain.
Zelenskyy open to demilitarized zone in Ukraine's east
