Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to dash to Donald Trump‘s Mar-a-Lago estate for an urgent meeting, just days after declaring in a Christmas message that he hoped Vladimir Putin would perish.
It comes as the Russian dictator suffered a humiliating Christmas Day defeat after Ukrainian forces took back full control of a city the Kremlin had claimed two months ago.
Ukrainian media reports suggest the high-stakes meeting with Trump could take place as soon as December 28, if final arrangements are agreed.
The Kyiv leader confirmed that preparations are underway after receiving an update from his chief negotiator, Rustem Umerov, on recent contacts with Washington.
He said: ‘We’re not wasting a single day. We’ve agreed on a meeting at the highest level, with President Trump, in the near future. A lot could be resolved before the new year. Glory to Ukraine!’
According to the Kyiv Post, the talks at Trump’s Florida residence are expected to focus on the structure, timing, and substance of a potential ceasefire framework.
Zelensky earlier held a marathon call on Christmas Day with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, which he described as an intensive discussion on how to halt the fighting.
‘We have some new ideas,’ Zelensky said after the call. ‘Some documents are already prepared. As I see it, they are nearly ready, and some documents are fully prepared.’
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. The Ukrainian leader is preparing for a meeting with Trump in Florida
An emergency service worker at the site of an apartment building hit by Russian strikes on Christmas Day. The meeting between Zelensky and Trump will focus on finding a solution to end the war
Despite the apparent progress, major obstacles remain as Putin continues to demand that Ukraine surrender large swathes of its eastern territory and has refused to relinquish control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Proposals discussed by US officials have included some form of shared or international oversight of the facility, a suggestion Kyiv views with caution.
The diplomatic push comes after Zelensky delivered one of his most incendiary remarks yet about the Russian president in a pre-recorded Christmas message filmed against a festive backdrop.
In the clip, he said Ukrainians shared a single wish for the holiday season.
Referring to Putin, he said: ‘Today we all share one dream. And we make one wish together: “May he perish.”‘ He added that Ukrainians ultimately pray for peace and continue to fight for it.
Zelensky’s possible visit to Mar-a-Lago also comes as Russia faces an embarrassing setback on the battlefield.
On Christmas Day, it was revealed that Ukrainian forces had taken full control of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, according to reports from both Ukrainian and pro-war Russian sources.
The Kremlin had repeatedly claimed that Russian troops had captured the strategically important city, with Putin even awarding General Sergei Kuzovlev the Hero of Russia honour for securing it.
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An aerial view of Kupyansk, which Russian forces claimed to have taken. It was revealed on Christmas Day that Ukraine had regained full control
Russian General Sergei Kuzovlev receiving the title of Hero of Russia after he said he had taken the city. There are now rare public calls to strip him of the honour
Pro-Kremlin military bloggers have now admitted Russian forces were forced out in what they described as a ‘worse than critical’ defeat.
Ukraine had consistently denied losing Kupyansk, and Zelensky visited part of the city two weeks ago to mock Moscow’s claims.
At the time, control was divided, but reports now say Ukrainian troops have regained full control.
The reversal has triggered rare public criticism within Russia, with some commentators calling for Kuzovlev’s award to be revoked and warning that Putin may be receiving distorted battlefield reports from his commanders.
Meanwhile, despite Zelensky’s optimistic approach to the fresh talks, Putin has intensified his attacks across Ukraine in the last few weeks.
His bombardments have killed dozens of civilians and injured many others.
Several homes have also been left without power in freezing temperatures after Russia attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
A damaged building on fire after Russia launched attacks on Ukraine yesterday
Emergency workers carry an injured resident into an ambulance. Russia’s intensified attacks in recent weeks have left dozens dead and many others injured
The aftermath of alleged drone strikes on Ukraine in the Chernihiv region yesterday. Several homes have been left without power in the middle of winter
On Monday, Russian authorities said they were investigating whether Ukraine was behind the assassination of a top general who had been instrumental in training troops to fight in the Ukraine war.
Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov died when a bomb under his parked car detonated in Moscow.
It marked the third time in 12 months that high-ranking Russian officials had died in similar circumstances.
While Zelensky claimed responsibility for one of the attacks, he has stayed silent on the other two.
