Ukraine left freezing as Russia bombs energy grid before peace talks

The attack comes during a winter freeze and despite efforts by President Trump and others to get the two countries to negotiate a truce.

It was unclear why the latest round of negotiations, which had been expected on Sunday, were postponed for several days.

US president says he made appeal to Russian leader, but no ceasefire has been confirmed by Moscow or Kyiv Donald Trump has claimed Vladimir Putin agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for one week after he issued a personal appeal to the Russian leader due to the extreme cold in Ukraine. The short-term ceasefire, which has not been confirmed by either Ukraine or Russia, was announced during a cabinet meeting of Trump’s top advisers at the White House on Thursday. Continue reading...

Officials from Russia, Ukraine and the United States are meeting in the United Arab Emirates for rare three-way negotiations.

Ukraine’s foreign minister accuses Vladimir Putin of sabotaging peace talks Just hours before the three-way talks began, Putin discussed a Ukraine settlement with US president Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during marathon overnight talks. The Kremlin insists that to reach a peace deal, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but has not fully captured. Continue reading...

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators have rarely met directly in the past, instead relying on Americans to mediate, and it was unclear how the talks would play out.

Friday’s meeting in Abu Dhabi comes after talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Ukraine, Russia and the US are set to hold three-way talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday, marking the first time that the three countries have sat down together since Russia invaded in 2022. The meeting was confirmed in the early hours of Friday morning after talks at the Kremlin between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters those talks were “useful in every respect”, adding that it was “agreed that the first meeting of a trilateral working group on security issues will take place today in Abu Dhabi”. Continue reading...

Ukraine president says Europe is in ‘Greenland mode’ and needs to know how to defend itself rather than waiting for US to act Davos live – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken aim at Europe in a speech at Davos, accusing leaders of being on “Greenland mode” as they waited for leadership from Donald Trump on Ukraine and other geopolitical crises rather than taking action themselves. “Just last year, here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words Europe needs to know how to defend itself,” Zelenskyy said in a speech at the World Economic Forum. “A year has passed, and nothing has changed.” Continue reading...

Trilateral declaration of intent signed after ‘coalition of the willing’ summit in Paris with plan to establish military hubs Britain and France have declared they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine in the aftermath of a peace deal, a major new commitment that has been under discussion for months, although one which Russia is likely to block forcefully. The announcement came after a summit in Paris hosted by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and attended by more than two dozen leaders of the states that make up the “coalition of the willing” of Ukrainian allies, plus the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who said the US president “strongly stands” behind the security protocols. Continue reading...

The discussions, also attended by top U.S. negotiators and other allies of Ukraine, are intended to make progress on European commitments to postwar security if a cease-fire is reached.

The US may be making positive noises, but exhausted Ukrainians remain wary after nearly four years of war “I would give anything in the world if, in this address, I could say that peace will also come in just a few minutes,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a message to the Ukrainian people released just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. “Unfortunately, I cannot say that yet.” Zelenskyy said a peace agreement was “90% ready”, but added something that subverted Donald Trump’s constant claims that a deal is just around the corner. “Those 10% contain, in fact, everything,” he said. Continue reading...

Ukraine has not commented on attack on cafe and hotel that comes despite ‘productive’ ongoing peace talks A Ukrainian drone strike killed 24 people and injured at least 50 more as they celebrated the new year in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraine’s Kherson region, Russian officials said, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise despite diplomats hailing productive peace talks. Three drones struck a cafe and hotel in the resort town of Khorly on the Black Sea coast, the region’s Moscow-installed leader, Vladimir Saldo, said in a statement on Telegram on Thursday. He said one of the drones was carrying an incendiary mixture that sparked a blaze. Continue reading...

Ukraine has not commented on attack on cafe and hotel that comes despite ‘productive’ ongoing peace talks A Ukrainian drone strike killed 24 people and injured at least 50 more as they celebrated the new year in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraine’s Kherson region, Russian officials said, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise despite diplomats hailing productive peace talks. Three drones struck a cafe and hotel in the resort town of Khorly on the Black Sea coast, the region’s Moscow-installed leader, Vladimir Saldo, said in a statement on Telegram on Thursday. He said one of the drones was carrying an incendiary mixture that sparked a blaze. Continue reading...

The U.S.-led negotiations have made some progress, but still face fundamental challenges, including over security guarantees to counter future Russian aggression.

Russia’s claim it foiled drone attack on Putin residence shows ‘they do not want to finish this war’, Ukrainian president says Ukraine war – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Monday of trying to sabotage peace talks and preparing to bomb government buildings after the Kremlin said it had foiled a Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence. Zelenskyy described the Russian claim as “another lie”. He said he was “expecting” some kind of scandal following his two-hour meeting on Sunday with Donald Trump in Florida, where “progress” was made towards ending the conflict. Continue reading...

Russia’s claim it foiled drone attack on Putin residence shows ‘they do not want to finish this war’, Ukrainian president says Ukraine war – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Monday of trying to sabotage peace talks and preparing to bomb government buildings after the Kremlin said it had foiled a Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence. Zelenskyy described the Russian claim as “another lie”. He said he was “expecting” some kind of scandal following his two-hour meeting on Sunday with Donald Trump in Florida, where “progress” was made towards ending the conflict. Continue reading...

Though discussions produced little tangible progress, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at least avoided the type of setbacks that have blighted earlier meetings.

The U.S. president said after a meeting at Mar-a-Lago that a deal was “maybe very close.” But a joint U.S.-Ukraine proposal appeared unfinished, as Russia rejected several ideas.

Key topics include security guarantees from Europe and the US, with Putin yet to signal interest in latest negotiations Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are to meet on Sunday to discuss a plan to end the war in Ukraine, amid continuing Russian attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, and scepticism that Moscow is willing to drop any of its maximalist demands. Zelenskyy arrived in Florida on Saturday night with a Ukrainian delegation, before talks with the US president at his Mar-a-Lago residence. The two leaders are expected to discuss the latest iteration of a 20-point peace plan and the unresolved question of the future of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. Continue reading...

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine brings a revised 20-point peace proposal, as well as doubts about whether Russia is serious about pursuing peace.

Meeting on Sunday will follow flurry of US, Russian and Ukrainian talks, but Putin has shown little sign of softening Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to travel to the US for a planned meeting with Donald Trump on Sunday, as Washington continues to push for a possible peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow . The Ukrainian president said the visit would take place at a location in Florida – widely expected to be Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort – in what would be the latest development in a diplomatic push that began in November with the circulation of a 28-point US plan shaped with input from Russian officials. Continue reading...

Meeting on Sunday will follow flurry of US, Russian and Ukrainian talks, but Putin has shown little sign of softening Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to travel to the US for a planned meeting with Donald Trump on Sunday, as Washington continues to push for a possible peace deal between Kyiv and Moscow . The Ukrainian president said the visit would take place at a location in Florida – widely expected to be Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort – in what would be the latest development in a diplomatic push that began in November with the circulation of a 28-point US plan shaped with input from Russian officials. Continue reading...

There was no immediate confirmation from the White House about a meeting, which President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has sought since the latest U.S.-.led push for peace got underway.

Ukraine accepts principle of demilitarised zone in east, while insisting Russia make similar concessions in pulling back forces Washington and Kyiv have edged closer to a jointly agreed formula to end the war in Ukraine amid continuing uncertainty over Moscow’s response and a number of unresolved issues. Revealing the latest status of the peace talks, brokered by Washington, Ukraine’s president, Volodmyr Zelenskyy, appeared to have secured several important concessions from earlier versions of the now-slimmed-down plan after intense talks with the US negotiating team. Continue reading...

Ukraine accepts principle of demilitarised zone in east, while insisting Russia make similar concessions in pulling back forces Washington and Kyiv have edged closer to a jointly agreed formula to end the war in Ukraine amid continuing uncertainty over Moscow’s response and a number of unresolved issues. Revealing the latest status of the peace talks, brokered by Washington, Ukraine’s president, Volodmyr Zelenskyy, appeared to have secured several important concessions from earlier versions of the now-slimmed-down plan after intense talks with the US negotiating team. Continue reading...

The blueprint covers a broad range of issues, including territory, security guarantees and postwar reconstruction. But Russia has indicated little willingness to end the war.

The offer was the closest Mr. Zelensky has come to addressing the thorny territorial disputes in Donetsk that have repeatedly derailed peace talks.

The Ukrainian leader cited progress on security guarantees, even as Russia bombed Ukraine overnight, indicating that it is prepared to continue fighting.

Proposals that emerged in recent negotiations with the United States were “rather unconstructive,” a Kremlin official said on Sunday.

Often left out by the United States in peace negotiations, European countries are working to assert their leadership and bolster Ukraine with an ambitious funding plan. But can they agree?

US says talks with Ukraine in Berlin have resolved 90% of difficult issues – but no sign Putin willing to compromise Europe live – latest updates Volodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals negotiated with US officials on a peace deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine could be finalised within days, after which American envoys will present them to the Kremlin. After two days of talks in Berlin , US officials said on Monday they had resolved “90%” of the problematic issues between Russia and Ukraine, but despite the positive spin it is not clear that an end to the war is any closer, particularly as the Russian side is absent from the current talks. Continue reading...

For the second day running, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine met in Berlin with American diplomats, seeking to bridge divides over how to end the war.

Zelenskyy to meet British, French and German leaders, with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also invited Europe live – latest updates European leaders including Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday in a show of support hosted by the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz , as the US pushes for a swift end to the war in Ukraine. The British prime minister, French president and the heads of Nato and the EU, who have criticised previous US proposals to end the Russian invasion as too favourable to Moscow , are set to convene with Zelenskyy on Monday evening at Merz’s offices in central Berlin. Continue reading...

The move marks a major shift for Ukraine, which has fought to join Nato as a safeguard against Russian attacks Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to drop Ukraine’s aspirations to join the Nato military alliance, as he held five hours of talks with US envoys in Berlin on Sunday to end the war with Russia. Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff said “a lot of progress was made” as he and the US president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met Zelenskyy in the latest push to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the second world war – though full details were not divulged. Continue reading...

Many understand the dance their leaders must perform to appease President Trump. But that doesn’t make them any less weary of the rounds and rounds of talks.

The Ukrainian president told reporters that a vote could be held in 60 to 90 days if the country received security protections from the United States.

Zelenskyy says he would hold wartime elections within months given help from allies and Ukraine’s parliament Trump lambasts ‘weak’ and ‘decaying’ Europe and hints at walking away from Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to hold a wartime election within the next three months, if Ukraine’s parliament and foreign allies will allow it, after Donald Trump accused him of clinging on to power . Zelenskyy, clearly irritated by Trump’s intervention, said that “this is a question for the people of Ukraine, not people from other states, with all due respect to our partners”. Continue reading...

Ukraine’s president set to meet the leaders of the UK, France and Germany in London on Monday See all our Ukraine war coverage Donald Trump has said Volodymyr Zelenskyy “isn’t ready” to sign off on a US-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, at the end of three days of talks between Washington and Kyiv in Florida. “I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn’t,” Trump claimed as he spoke with reporters on Sunday night. Continue reading...

Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz will also be present for talks on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Downing Street on Monday for an in-person meeting with Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in a show of support for Ukraine. Starmer will use the meeting with the leaders from Ukraine, France and Germany to discuss the ongoing talks between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at finding an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security. Continue reading...

French president’s remarks come a day after a report claimed he had warned Washington could betray Kyiv Emmanuel Macron has said there is “no mistrust” between Europe and the US, a day after a report claimed the French president had warned privately there was a risk Washington could betray Ukraine . “Unity between Americans and Europeans on the Ukrainian issue is essential. And I say it again and again, we need to work together,” Macron told reporters during a visit to China on Friday. Continue reading...

Magazine says leaked note from call between European heads also contains similar concerns of other leaders Emmanuel Macron has reportedly warned European leaders that “there is a chance that the US will betray Ukraine on territory, without clarity on security guarantees,” German magazine Der Spiegel reported , quoting a leaked note from a recent call. Spiegel said it had obtained an English summary of Monday’s call, featuring what it said were direct quotations from some of the heads of government in which they expressed fundamental doubts about Washington’s approach to the talks. Continue reading...

Trump’s comments come after an hours-long meeting at the Kremlin between US envoys and Vladimir Putin failed to achieve a breakthrough Analysis: the Ukraine peace deal has stumbled yet again over an inevitable obstacle: Putin The path ahead for Ukraine peace talks is unclear, Donald Trump has said, after what he called “reasonably good” talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin and US envoys which nonetheless failed to achieve a breakthrough After their hours-long meeting at the Kremlin on Tuesday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, were set to meet top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov in Florida on Thursday. Continue reading...

The president wanted Moscow and Kyiv to come to terms by Thanksgiving. Negotiations are now stalled, leaving the White House to decide if an agreement is possible anytime soon.

In today’s newsletter: With US pressure mounting and Ukraine signalling cautious openness, Moscow continues to project military momentum Good morning. On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin welcomed Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow for talks on ending the war on Ukraine, nearly four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The summit came amid intense diplomatic activity. Two weeks ago the US presented a 28-point peace plan to Kyiv that was widely seen as favourable to Moscow. Since then US and Ukrainian officials have met in Geneva and in Florida to rehash the plan. That revised offer was to form the basis of discussions at the summit. UK news | The families of those who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have said it is a “bitter injustice” that no police officer will ever be held accountable for failings set out in the final report of the police watchdog after a 14-year investigation. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that 12 officers would have faced proceedings if they had not since retired. Royal family | The public accounts committee is to launch an inquiry into the crown estate and its leases on properties to members of the royal family after questions over the letting of Royal Lodge to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Justice | David Lammy has been accused of making a “massive mistake” by Labour MPs and peers after announcing radical plans to cut thousands of jury trials across England and Wales. Policing | A quarter of police forces in England and Wales are yet to implement “basic policies for investigating sexual offences”, an official report has found. Gender | Trans girls will no longer be able to join Girlguiding, the organisation has announced , saying it has made the decision after seeking legal advice as a result of the supreme court ruling on gender earlier this year. Continue reading...

Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet Kyiv delegation, after another weekend of deadly Russian attacks in Ukraine Ukrainian negotiators are meeting with US officials in Florida to thrash out details of Washington’s proposed framework to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, as Kyiv faces pressure on military and political fronts. The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, the special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, are sitting down with a Ukrainian delegation on Sunday before planned US talks this week in Moscow with Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

Second round of talks to follow negotiations last month that appeared to make little progress on key issue of territory.

The talks come just a day before a second round of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.

These are the key developments from day 1,437 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia held US-mediated discussions in Abu Dhabi last week with another meeting scheduled for Sunday.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa region, Ukraine, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) 2026-01-30T09:17:51Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine awaited signs Friday that Russia is abiding by a commitment that U.S. President Donald Trump said it made to temporarily halt attacks on Ukraine’s power grid , as Kyiv and other regions are gripped by the bitterest winter weather for years. Trump said late Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to his request not to target the Ukrainian capital and other towns for one week, as the region experiences frigid temperatures that have brought widespread hardship to civilians. Trump didn’t say when the call with Putin took place or when the moratorium would go into effect, and the White House didn’t immediately respond to a query seeking clarity about the scope and timing of any limited pause. There was no immediate confirmation from the Kremlin that Putin has committed to the move. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was skeptical about Putin’s readiness for such a step as Russia’s all-out invasion , which began on Feb. 24, 2022, approaches its four-year anniversary next month with no signs that Moscow is willing to reach a peace settlement despite a U.S.-led push to end the fighting . “I do not believe that Russia wants to end the war. There is a great deal of evidence to the contrary,” Zelenskyy said Thursday in comments made public on Friday. Drone and missile attacks continue He said that Ukraine is ready to halt its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, if Moscow also stops its bombardment of the Ukrainian power grid and other energy assets. While there was no official word on whether those conciliatory steps had been taken, the grinding war of attrition dragged on. Russia fired 111 drones and one ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, injuring at least three people, the Ukrainian Air Force said. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said that its air defenses overnight shot down 18 Ukrainian drones over several Russian regions, as well as the annexed Crimea and the Black Sea. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Bitter cold is forecast for Ukraine Kyiv, which recently has endured severe power shortages, is forecast to enter a brutally cold stretch starting Friday that is expected to last into next week. Temperatures in some areas will drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), the State Emergency Service said. Russia has sought to deny Ukrainian civilians heat, light and running water over the course of the war, in a strategy that Ukrainian officials describe as “weaponizing winter.” The possibility of a respite in energy sector attacks was discussed at last weekend’s meeting in Abu Dhabi , the capital of the United Arab Emirates, between envoys of Ukraine, Russia and the United States, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy said that he had agreed to adhere to a “reciprocal approach” on energy assaults. “If Russia does not strike us, we will … take corresponding steps,” he told reporters. Further talks were expected on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, but that could change because of a spike in tensions between the U.S. and Iran. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); No agreement on a ceasefire, Zelenskyy says It was unclear whether and how any partial truce might work amid ongoing wider fighting and mistrust between the two countries. “There is no ceasefire. There is no official agreement on a ceasefire, as is typically reached during negotiations,” Zelenskyy said. “There has been no direct dialogue and no direct agreements on this matter between us and Russia.” Ukraine had originally posited the idea for a limited energy ceasefire at talks in Saudi Arabia last year, Zelenskyy said, but the proposal gained no traction. Disagreement over what happens to occupied Ukrainian territory, and Moscow’s demand for possession of territory it hasn’t captured, are a key issue holding up a peace deal, according to Zelenskyy. “We have repeatedly said that we are ready for compromises that lead to a real end to the war, but that are in no way related to changes to Ukraine’s territorial integrity,” Zelenskyy said. “The American side understands this and says that there is a compromise solution regarding a free economic zone.” However, Ukraine demands control over such a zone, he said. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Ukraine's Zelenskyy welcomes possible pause after Russian attacks leave homes without heat in plummeting temperatures.

These are the key developments from day 1,436 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

At least four people were killed when drones targeted a packed train in north-eastern Ukraine, officials say.

These are the key developments from day 1,433 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Ukrainian leader says Kyiv and Moscow continue to have 'fundamentally different' positions on territorial concessions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) 2026-01-25T17:16:41Z President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that a U.S. security guarantees document for Ukraine is “100% ready” after two days of talks involving representatives from Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia. Speaking to journalists in Vilnius during a visit to Lithuania, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is waiting for its partners to set a signing date, after which the document would go to the U.S. Congress and Ukrainian parliament for ratification. Zelenskyy also emphasized Ukraine’s push for European Union membership by 2027, calling it an “economic security guarantee.” The Ukrainian leader described the talks in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as likely the first trilateral format in “quite a long while” that included not only diplomats but military representatives from all three sides. The talks, which began on Friday and continued Saturday, were the latest aiming to end Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion . freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Zelenskyy acknowledged fundamental differences between Ukrainian and Russian positions, reaffirming territorial issues as a major sticking point. “Our position regarding our territory — Ukraine’s territorial integrity — must be respected,” he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a Ukraine settlement with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during marathon talks late Thursday. The Kremlin insisted that to reach a peace deal, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but has not fully captured. Zelenskyy said the U.S. is trying to find a compromise, but that “all sides must be ready for compromise.” Negotiators will return to the UAE on Feb. 1 for the next round of talks, according to a U.S. official. The recent talks covered a broad range of military and economic matters and included the possibility of a ceasefire before a deal, the official said. There was not yet an agreement on a final framework for oversight and operation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is occupied by Russia and is the largest in Europe. 获取更多RSS： https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Ukrainians have little hope after a US-brokered meeting as they endure bombardments and blackouts.

On eve of day 2 of talks in UAE capital, Russian attacks cut off about 1.2 million from power in sub-zero temperatures.

One person died and 23 were injured as trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi were set to resume.

Emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrii Marienko) 2026-01-24T07:21:21Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least one person and wounded 18 overnight into Saturday, as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States were set to meet in Abu Dhabi for a second day of talks to end Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion . One person was killed and four wounded in Russian drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, according to Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko. In Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, drone attacks wounded 14 people, the State Emergency Service said Saturday. The attacks came as envoys were expected to meet in the United Arab Emirates for a second day of talks on Saturday. The talks are the first known instance that officials from the Trump administration have sat down with both countries as part of Washington’s push for progress to end Moscow’s nearly 4-year-old invasion . freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); The UAE’s foreign ministry said the talks are part of efforts “to promote dialogue and identify political solutions to the crisis.” The White House described Friday’s first day as productive. There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent days, from Switzerland to the Kremlin, even though serious obstacles remain between both sides. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday that a potential peace deal was “nearly ready,” certain sensitive sticking points — most notably those related to territorial issues — remain unresolved. Just hours before the three-way talks began, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a Ukraine settlement with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner during marathon overnight talks. The Kremlin insists that to reach a peace deal, Kyiv must withdraw its troops from the areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed but has not fully captured. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

These are the key developments from day 1,430 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy says territorial disputes will be central, but Russia must be ready to end war it started.

These are the key developments from day 1,429 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

After meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump says Russia’s ‘war has to end’.

The announcement comes before a meeting between US President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Zelenskyy, in Davos.

US envoy Steve Witkoff said he was optimistic about a deal ahead of talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin.

CORRECTS DATE In this photo provided by Ukraine's 65th Mechanized Brigade press service, recruits perform drills at a training ground in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraine's 65th Mechanized Brigade via AP) 2026-01-21T14:26:49Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — About 4,000 buildings in Kyiv lacked heat Wednesday and nearly 60% of the Ukrainian capital was without power, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after days of Russian bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid and as U.S. President Donald Trump prepared to hold talks with the Ukrainian leader. Trump’s delegatesalso were expected in Moscow later this week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. With temperatures falling as low as minus 20 C (minus 4 F) in Kyiv, Ukraine is seeing one of the coldest winters in years, deepening the hardship of Ukrainians almost four years after Russia launched a full-scale invasion . A yearlong push by the Trump administration to stop the fighting hasn’t yielded any breakthrough, despite the American president issuing a series of deadlines, though efforts were set to continue. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that he would meet Thursday with Zelenskyy. “I want to stop it,” Trump said of the fighting. “It’s a horrible war.” U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he plans to discuss peace proposals with Putin as well as hold talks with a Ukrainian delegation. “We need a peace,” Witkoff said at Davos. Putin confirmed late on Wednesday that Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected in Moscow on Thursday for talks. The Russian leader said that Moscow and Washington, among other things, are discussing the possibility of using Russian assets frozen in the U.S. for rebuilding “territories damaged by the hostilities” after a peace agreement is reached. But with a dispute over Greenland’s future largely eclipsing other transatlantic issues at Davos , discussions about Ukraine’s defense looked likely to be sidelined. Zelenskyy said last week his envoys would try to finalize with U.S. officials documents for a proposed peace settlement that relate to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); He added that the U.S. and Ukraine could sign the documents in Davos this week, but on Tuesday he said he wouldn’t be traveling to Switzerland and would focus on restoring power in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers is allocating 2.56 billion hryvnias (almost $60 million) from a reserve fund to purchase generators, Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said Wednesday. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday urged the 32-nation alliance’s military chiefs to press their national governments to supply desperately needed air defense systems to Ukraine, helping it fend off Russia’s aerial attacks. “Please use your influence to help your political masters to do even more,” Rutte said in a video message to top brass as they met at NATO’s Brussels headquarters. “Look deep into your stockpiles to see what more you can give to Ukraine, particularly air defense interceptors. The time really is now,” he said. Russia launched 97 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force said. In the central Dnipropetrovsk region, attacks killed a 77-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, according to Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the regional military administration. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Russia’s Defense Ministry said that air defenses downed 75 Ukrainian drones over several regions. The international airports of Krasnodar, Sochi, Gelendzhik and Saratov briefly suspended flights overnight because of the drones. In Adygea, more than 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the Ukrainian border, a Ukrainian drone caused a fire at an apartment building that injured 11 people, including two children, according to Gov. Murat Kumpilov. ___ Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this story. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

US envoy Witkoff to meet Putin on Thursday, the Kremlin confirms, as signing of $800bn Ukraine deal is put on hold.

The Kremlin says it is seeking to "clarify all the nuances" of the offer from Washington.

Snow covered, damaged Russian military vehicles are on display in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) 2026-01-18T13:32:19Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian drone strikes damaged energy networks in Russia-occupied parts of southern Ukraine, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power on Sunday, according to Kremlin-installed authorities there. Meanwhile, Moscow has kept up its hammering of Ukraine’s energy grid in overnight attacks that killed at least two people, according to Ukrainian officials. More than 200,000 households in the Russia-held part of Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region had no electricity on Sunday, according to the Kremlin-installed local governor. In a Telegram post, Yevgeny Balitsky said that nearly 400 settlements have had their supply cut, because of damage to power networks from Ukrainian drone strikes. Russia has hammered Ukraine’s power grid, especially in winter, throughout the nearly four-year war. The strikes aim to weaken Ukrainians’ will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call “weaponizing winter.” freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Russia targeted energy infrastructure in Odesa region overnight on Sunday, according to Ukraine’s Emergency Service. A fire broke out and was promptly extinguished. At least six people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region from Russian attacks, the emergency service said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that repairing the country’s energy system remains challenging, “but we are doing everything we can to restore everything as quickly as possible.” He said that two people were killed in overnight attacks across the country that struck Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi and Odesa. In total, more than 1,300 attack drones, 1,050 guided aerial bombs and 29 missiles of various types were used by Russia to strike Ukraine this week, Zelenskyy said. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); U.S. talks “If Russia deliberately delays the diplomatic process, the world’s response should be decisive: more help for Ukraine and more pressure on the aggressor,” Zelenskyy said. He spoke the day after a Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States for talks on a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the war. On Friday, Zelenskyy said that the delegation would try to finalize with U.S. officials documents for a proposed peace settlement that relate to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery. If American officials approve the proposals, the U.S. and Ukraine could sign the documents next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said at a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel. Trump plans to be in Davos, according to organizers. Russia would still need to be consulted on the proposals. Drones strike Russian Caucasus Separately, in Russia’s Caucasus mountains, two children and an adult were wounded overnight as debris from a Ukrainian drone fell on a five-story residential building in North Ossetia, according to the regional governor. Seventy people had to be evacuated from the building, in the town of Beslan, and there was damage to its roof and windows, Gov. Sergei Menyaylo said in a Telegram post on Sunday morning. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that its forces shot down or suppressed 63 Ukrainian drones overnight over Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula. One person was hospitalized in Russia’s Krasnodar region east of Crimea following a drone strike, local authorities said. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Nuclear plant repairs Ukrainian crews have started repair works on the backup power line connecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to the power grid, under a ceasefire brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based U.N. organization said in an X post on Sunday. The fate of the plant, occupied by Russia and the largest in Europe, is a central issue in ongoing U.S.-brokered peace talks. “Crucial repair works on the essential back up Ferosplavna-1 330 kV power line connecting Ukraine’s ZNPP to the grid have begun under another IAEA-brokered ceasefire,” the agency said in the post. The 330-kilovolt power line, which was damaged and disconnected because of fighting, is crucial to supplying the plant with electricity.

Snow covered, damaged Russian military vehicles are on display in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) 2026-01-17T11:29:22Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian delegation arrived in the United States for talks Saturday on a U.S.-led diplomatic push to end the nearly 4-year-old war as Russian attacks again took aim at Ukraine’s power grid, cutting electricity and heating in freezing temperatures. Kyrylo Budanov, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, said he arrived in the U.S. to discuss “the details of the peace agreement.” Writing on the Telegram messaging app, Budanov said he, together with Ukrainian negotiators Rustem Umerov and Davyd Arakhamia, would meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Zelenskyy said Friday that the delegation would try to finalize with U.S. officials documents for a proposed peace settlement that relate to postwar security guarantees and economic recovery. freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); If American officials approve the proposals, the U.S. and Ukraine could sign the documents next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Zelenskyy said at a Kyiv news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel. Trump plans to be in Davos, according to organizers. Russia would still need to be consulted on the proposals. Russia struck energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Kyiv and Odesa regions overnight into Saturday, the Ministry of Energy said. More than 20 settlements in the Kyiv region were left without power following the attacks, the ministry wrote on its official Telegram channel. Russia has hammered Ukraine’s power grid , especially in winter, throughout the war. It aims to weaken the Ukrainian will to resist in a strategy that Kyiv officials call “weaponizing winter.” Ukraine’s new energy minister, Denys Shmyhal, said Friday that Russia had conducted 612 attacks on energy targets over last year. That barrage has intensified in recent months as nighttime temperatures plunge to minus 18 degrees Celsius (0 Fahrenheit). freestar.queue.push(function () { window.fsAdCount = window.fsAdCount + 1 || 0; let customChannel = '/dynamic_' + fsAdCount; let adList = document.querySelectorAll(".fs-feed-ad") let thisAd = adList[fsAdCount]; let randId = Math.random().toString(36).slice(2); thisAd.id = randId; let thisPlacement = fsAdCount == 0 ? "apnews_story_feed" : "apnews_story_feed_dynamic"; freestar.newAdSlots({ placementName: thisPlacement, slotId: randId }, customChannel); }); Ukraine has introduced emergency measures, including temporarily easing curfew restrictions to allow people to go whenever they need to public heating centers set up by the authorities, Shmyhal said. He said hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure remain the top priority for electricity and heat supplies. Officials have instructed state energy companies Ukrzaliznytsia, Naftogaz and Ukroboronprom to urgently purchase imported electricity covering at least 50% of their own consumption, according to Shmyhal. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

These are the key developments from day 1,422 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

These are the key developments from day 1,419 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

These are the key developments from day 1,415 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The comments come as the Kremlin slammed a plan for France and the UK to send peacekeepers to Ukraine after a ceasefire.

The southeastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia were almost entirely without power, officials said.

These are the key developments from day 1,414 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The comments come after the UK and France said they would deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is agreed.

Chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov says progress has been made at key Paris summit.

The announcement was made by UK PM Sir Keir Starmer after a meeting of Ukraine's allies in Paris.

The UK and France will establish 'military hubs' in Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.

'Coalition of the willing' tries to lay groundwork for ceasefire and end to Russia's nearly four-year war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy denies that Kyiv attacked the Novgorod residence of Russian President Putin.

The Ukrainian president rejects Moscow’s claim that Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on Novgorod.

The US escalation against Caracas may be part of a larger realignment for a new world order.

US President Trump and Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy are talking up prospects of ending the war with Russia.

Both the US president and Zelensky describe talks in Florida as "great" and "terrific" but the issue of territory remains "unresolved".

These are the key developments from day 1,404 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Peace deal nearly finalised 'that’s good for Ukraine, good for everybody', says Donald Trump as he welcomes Zelenskyy.

Ben Aris talks about the meeting on Dec 28 between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and US President Trump

These are the key developments from day 1,403 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Poland's military says its air force took a "preventative" response to secure its airspace.

The Ukrainian leader says he will see the US president in Florida and believes "a lot can be decided before the new year".

Ukraine's leader gives an upbeat assessment after discussing the plan with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Russian attack on Ukraine's Zaporizhia region kills at least one and injures three, according to its governor.

These are the key developments from day 1,398 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the attacks were an attempt by Moscow to block Ukraine's access to maritime logistics.

US envoy holds separate meetings with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Miami on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

These are the key developments from day 1,397 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Some European leaders feel sidelined as US mediation takes Russian priorities into consideration.

Yury Ushakov's remarks come a day after US and Russian officials held talks on the US proposal in Florida.

Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev says the talks were 'constructive' and will continue on Sunday.

These are the key developments from day 1,396 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

These are the key developments from day 1,395 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Kyiv's top negotiator says latest talks with US officials ended with both sides agreeing to continue 'joint work'.

The Nato chief said it was thanks to Donald Trump that the alliance is "stronger than it ever was".

Not all EU members are in favour of freezing Russian assets due to concerns over legal basis and reprisal from Moscow.

European leaders say they and US are committed to working together to provide 'robust security guarantees' for Ukraine.

As Ukraine peace talks continue, Zelenskyy is meeting European and US officials in Berlin over security guarantees.

President Zelenskyy's comments mark a major shift for Ukraine, which has fought hard to join NATO in recent years.

High-level talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine gain momentum as two countries exchange drone attacks.

These are the key developments from day 1,389 of Russia's war on Ukraine.

These are the key developments from day 1,386 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Ukraine is at a "critical moment", the leaders of Britain, France and Germany say after a joint call with Donald Trump.

What are the practicalities of holding an election in wartime?

Ukrainian leader responds to US President Trump's suggestion that he is using the war as an excuse to avoid elections.

These are the key developments from day 1,385 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

These are the key developments from day 1,384 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president says Donbas continues to divide negotiators, as meetings with France, Germany and the UK begin.

Negotiations fail to yield progress, while Moscow launches more than 700 drones and missiles across Ukrainian territory.

The Ukrainian leader says he is "determined" to continue working with the US, as Russian strikes continue.

Moscow launched 653 drones and 51 missiles overnight, most of which were downed, Kyiv says.

As peace efforts fail to bear fruit, the Russian leader threatens Odesa and Mykolaiv - and warns of wider war on Europe.

These are the key developments from day 1,380 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

The Russian leader's comments come as US and Ukrainian negotiators are due to hold a new round of talks.

Comments to Indian media seem to contradict Trump report that negotiators got the impression he wanted to 'make a deal'.

These are the key developments from day 1,378 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Kremlin officials described the five hours of talks as "constructive" - but said "a lot of work lies ahead".

These are the key developments from day 1,377 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the Kremlin has confirmed.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke optimistically about revising the plan to end its war with Russia.

Senior US officials will meet President Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, two days after US-Ukraine peace talks in Florida.

Russian attacks on Ukraine continue even as diplomatic efforts to end the war gain momentum.

Delegations meet in Florida to ‘create pathway’ for sovereign Ukraine ahead of US special envoy Witkoff’s Moscow trip.

The overnight attack kills at least three and injures dozens more.

The overnight attack kills at least three and injures dozens more.

Russia launched its largest drone and missile attack this year on Ukraine overnight, leaving hundreds of thousands without heating in freezing temperatures on Tuesday, just one day ahead of fresh talks aiming to find an end to the four-year war. The strikes hit as Ukraine was experiencing the coldest temperatures during the Russian invasion and damaged an iconic Soviet-era WWII monument. They also came a day before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were due to meet for a second round of talks in...

A Russian drone strike on a bus carrying miners ‌killed at least 12 people, Ukrainian officials said on Sunday, hours after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced new peace talks amid uncertainty over a Russian suspension ‍of attacks on energy infrastructure. First Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the strike in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region was a “cynical and targeted” attack on energy workers. Their employer DTEK said the victims were finishing a shift. Kyiv is under US...

US President Donald Trump said Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to halt attacks on Kyiv and other cities for a week, as Moscow’s strikes leave Ukraine facing its toughest winter since the start of the war. Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have left millions with disrupted light, heating and water supplies in freezing temperatures, pushing the war-battered country towards a humanitarian crisis. “Because of the cold, extreme cold … I personally asked President Putin not...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a long-anticipated document on U.S. security guarantees is "100% ready" for signing, with Kyiv now waiting for its American partners to confirm the date and place before the agreement moves to ratification in both the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian parliament. "For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States. The document is 100% ready," Zelenskyy said Sunday at a joint press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, with the presidents of Lithuania and Poland, according to a translation of his remarks from Reuters. Zelenskyy reiterated at the press conference that Ukraine views membership in the European Union as another core security guarantee and is aiming to join the bloc by 2027, the Ukrainian president's office said in a statement on its website. His remarks come after Ukraine, Russia and the United States held trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi for two days over the weekend. PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE' Zelenskyy said on X that the discussions, which involved political and military representatives from all three sides, were "constructive" and focused on potential parameters for ending his country's war with Russia. RUSSIA LAUNCHES LARGEST ATTACK ON UKRAINE THIS MONTH FOLLOWING TRUMP'S MEETING WITH PUTIN, ZELENSKYY The talks in the United Arab Emirates followed a meeting in Moscow on Thursday between Russian President Vladimir Putin , U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and head of the Federal Acquisition Service Josh Gruenbaum. Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said the "extremely frank" discussions lasted roughly four hours and included U.S. officials updating Moscow on their recent conversations with Ukrainian and European leaders, according to a summary of the meeting from the Kremlin. Territorial issues remain a key obstacle in the negotiations, with Moscow pressing Kyiv to relinquish parts of eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region that Russian forces do not fully control. ZELENSKYY SAYS UKRAINE, AHEAD OF TRUMP MEETING, IS ‘WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES’ TO END WAR WITH RUSSIA U.S. officials told Axios that negotiations examined the full range of unresolved issues, from Russia’s territorial demands in the Donbas to control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and potential steps to prevent a return to fighting. Another U.S. official told the outlet a second round of talks is scheduled to take place on Feb. 1.

Ukraine and Russia ended a second day of ‍US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday without a deal but with more talks expected next weekend, even as overnight Russian air strikes knocked out power for over a million Ukrainians amid sub-zero winter cold. Statements after the conclusion of the talks did not indicate that any agreements had been reached, but Moscow and Kyiv both said they were open to further dialogue. “The central focus of the discussions was the possible parameters for ending...

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met ‌in Abu Dhabi on Friday to tackle the vital issue of territory, with no sign of a compromise, as Russian air strikes plunged Ukraine into its worst ‍energy crisis of the nearly four-year war. Kyiv is under mounting US pressure to reach a peace deal in the war triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Moscow demanding Kyiv cede its entire eastern industrial area of Donbas before it stops fighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky...

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the settlement in Ukraine with US President Donald Trump’s envoys during marathon overnight talks, and the Kremlin insisted that the territorial issue needs to be resolved to reach a peace deal. The Kremlin meeting, which lasted past 3am on Friday, came hours after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply criticised his European allies Thursday for what he cast as their slow and fragmented response to Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday blasted the EU’s lack of “political will” in countering Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during a fiery address criticising some of Kyiv’s top allies at the World Economic Forum. The speech to the Davos elite came minutes after Zelensky had met with US President Donald Trump, a conversation which he said brought agreement about what post-war US security guarantees for Ukraine would look like. Zelensky did not say what the security guarantees...

US President Donald Trump said his message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin was that the war in Ukraine has to end, ‍after what he said were “good” talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos on Thursday. US and Ukrainian officials have spent weeks in frenetic shuttle diplomacy as Kyiv faces pressure from Trump to secure peace in the nearly four-year-old war, despite few signs Moscow wants to stop fighting. After a meeting with the Ukrainian leader that lasted around an hour,...

US envoy Steve Witkoff said he and Jared Kushner will travel to Russia on Thursday for talks with President Vladimir Putin on the latest proposals for a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. “The Russians have invited us to come and that’s a significant statement from them,” Witkoff said in an interview with Bloomberg Television at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. “Jared and I will leave Thursday night and arrive in Moscow late at night.” US President Donald Trump remains “focused...

Kyiv held “substantive” talks on security and economic issues with Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, with more discussions expected in Davos, Switzerland this week, Ukraine’s security chief said on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has said he hopes to sign documents with the US on security guarantees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said his team had held several rounds of talks in the US. “We had substantive discussions on economic...

The U.K. and France signed a declaration Tuesday pledging troops for Ukraine under a future peace deal and with security guarantees supported by the U.S. and allied partners. The declaration was adopted in Paris by the Coalition of the Willing and sets out what leaders said was a framework for lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, set in international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 triggered Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. ZELENSKYY SAYS FRESH RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE SHOWS PUTIN'S 'TRUE ATTITUDE' AHEAD OF TRUMP MEETING The new agreement says that Ukraine’s sovereignty and its ability to defend itself are non-negotiable elements of any peace deal and warned that its self-defense is essential to its own security and wider Euro-Atlantic stability. Under the plan, a multinational force for Ukraine would be deployed once a ceasefire is in place, aimed at deterring any Russian aggression and supporting the rebuilding of Ukraine’s military. The force would be European-led with proposed support from the U.S. RUSSIA WARNS IT MAY REJECT US-UKRAINE PEACE PLAN IF IT FAILS TO UPHOLD ALASKA SUMMIT 'UNDERSTANDINGS' The declaration also commits the Coalition to security guarantees that would be activated once a ceasefire begins. These include commitments to support Ukraine militarily, diplomatically and economically in the event of a future armed attack by Russia. A key U.S. role is outlined in plans for a continuous, U.S.-led ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism, with contributions from partners. The U.S. would participate in a special commission to manage ceasefire breaches, attribute responsibility and determine solutions. UKRAINE–RUSSIA AT A CROSSROADS: HOW THE WAR EVOLVED IN 2025 AND WHAT COMES NEXT Coalition members also agreed to carry on with long-term military support for Ukraine and pledged defense cooperation, including training, defense production and intelligence sharing. Leaders also announced the creation of a permanent U.S.-Ukraine-Coalition coordination cell based at the Coalition’s headquarters in Paris. The declaration was unveiled at a joint news conference by French President Emmanuel Macron , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This followed talks in Paris which were attended by Jared Kushner and the U.S. special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy weighed in Saturday on the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, telling reporters that Washington "knows what to do next." Zelenskyy was speaking to reporters in Kyiv after meeting with national security advisors from member states of the Coalition of the Willing when he was asked about the stunning U.S. military operation that unfolded in the early morning hours in Caracas. "Regarding Venezuela? How should we respond to this?" Zelenskyy asked in Ukrainian. "Well, what can I say is, if you can do that with dictators, then the United States knows what to do next," he said with a smile. U.S. forces took Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound, where they were boarded onto the USS Iwo Jima and flown to New York to face federal charges. TRUMP CASTS MADURO’S OUSTER AS ‘SMART’ MOVE AS RUSSIA, CHINA ENTER THE FRAY Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the capture of Maduro and his wife, urging the Trump administration to release the "legitimately elected president of a sovereign country and his spouse." In a superseding indictment released Saturday by Attorney General Pam Bondi , Maduro is charged with leading a narco-terrorism conspiracy tied to large-scale cocaine trafficking into the United States, along with related drug importation and weapons offenses. Flores is also charged in the same indictment with participating in a decades-long cocaine trafficking conspiracy and related firearms offenses. The charges build on prior indictments from 2020. NYC MAYOR STRONGLY CONDEMNS TRUMP'S CAPTURE OF VENEZUELAN LEADER MADURO AS 'ACT OF WAR' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine said the mission, dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolve," involved more than 150 aircraft and a coordinated effort by the U.S. military, intelligence agencies and law enforcement to apprehend the duo. "This operation is a testament to the dedication and unwavering commitment to justice and our resolve to hold accountable those who threaten peace and stability," he said at a Mar-a-Lago press conference alongside President Donald Trump and Cabinet officials. MADURO’S FALL SPARKS SUSPICION OF BETRAYAL INSIDE VENEZUELA’S RULING ELITE Trump told reporters he never spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Maduro. "I'm not thrilled with Putin. He's killing too many people," the president said when asked whether he was upset at the Russian leader. Moscow has continued pounding Kyiv with large-scale drone and missile attacks as the Trump administration works to secure a potential peace agreement to end the nearly four-year war. "Russia has not shown a genuine willingness to pursue peace. Instead, it continues its aggressive war, violence and destabilization, using negotiations as a tactic to buy time," Zelenskyy said during the Coalition of the Willing meeting, according to a statement from his office. "It employs provocations and manipulations to derail progress in the peace process," The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back Monday against claims by senior Kremlin officials that Kyiv attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, calling the allegation a "complete fabrication." Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, made the claims in separate statements published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, alleging Ukraine carried out a drone attack on a Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia. "This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies. Furthermore, the Russians have already targeted Kyiv in the past, including the Cabinet of Ministers building," said Zelenskyy. "Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomacy. To the contrary, Russia always takes such steps. This is one of many differences between us." PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT Lavrov warned that Russia would retaliate in another statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, saying "such reckless actions will not go unanswered." "The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their execution by the Russian Armed Forces have been determined. At the same time, we do not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process with the United States," he added. The White House confirmed to Fox News on Monday that Trump spoke with Putin for the second time in two days, following the commander in chief’s Sunday meeting in Florida with Zelenskyy. ZELENSKYY DENIES RUSSIAN CLAIM THAT UKRAINE ATTACKED PUTIN RESIDENCE White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the call was "positive" and focused on discussions about the war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago Monday afternoon that he learned about the reported drone strike during the phone call with Putin earlier in the day. "This is not the right time. It's one thing to be offensive because they're offensive. It's another thing to attack his house. It's not the right time to do any of that and — can't do it. And I learned about it from President Putin, and I was very angry about it," he said. Trump on Sunday touted his meeting with Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian officials as productive as discussions continued over potential pathways toward ending Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine. "I really believe we're probably, Mr. President, closer than — by far — closer than ever before with both parties," Trump said at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader. Trump said the thorniest unresolved issue remains land Russia wants but does not fully control, referring to territory in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, and suggested Kyiv would be better off making a deal sooner rather than later.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back Monday against claims by senior Kremlin officials that Kyiv attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, calling the allegation a "complete fabrication." Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, made the claims in separate statements published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, alleging Ukraine carried out a drone attack on a Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia. "This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies. Furthermore, the Russians have already targeted Kyiv in the past, including the Cabinet of Ministers building," said Zelenskyy. "Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomacy. To the contrary, Russia always takes such steps. This is one of many differences between us." PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT Lavrov warned that Russia would retaliate in another statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, saying "such reckless actions will not go unanswered." "The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their execution by the Russian Armed Forces have been determined. At the same time, we do not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process with the United States," he added. The White House confirmed to Fox News on Monday that Trump spoke with Putin for the second time in two days, following the commander in chief’s Sunday meeting in Florida with Zelenskyy. ZELENSKYY DENIES RUSSIAN CLAIM THAT UKRAINE ATTACKED PUTIN RESIDENCE White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the call was "positive" and focused on discussions about the war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago Monday afternoon that he learned about the reported drone strike during the phone call with Putin earlier in the day. "This is not the right time. It's one thing to be offensive because they're offensive. It's another thing to attack his house. It's not the right time to do any of that and — can't do it. And I learned about it from President Putin, and I was very angry about it," he said. Trump on Sunday touted his meeting with Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian officials as productive as discussions continued over potential pathways toward ending Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine. "I really believe we're probably, Mr. President, closer than — by far — closer than ever before with both parties," Trump said at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader. Trump said the thorniest unresolved issue remains land Russia wants but does not fully control, referring to territory in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, and suggested Kyiv would be better off making a deal sooner rather than later.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed back Monday against claims by senior Kremlin officials that Kyiv attacked Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence, calling the allegation a "complete fabrication." Yuri Ushakov, a top foreign policy aide to Putin, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, made the claims in separate statements published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, alleging Ukraine carried out a drone attack on a Russian presidential residence in the Novgorod region of northwestern Russia. "This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war. Typical Russian lies. Furthermore, the Russians have already targeted Kyiv in the past, including the Cabinet of Ministers building," said Zelenskyy. "Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomacy. To the contrary, Russia always takes such steps. This is one of many differences between us." PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT Lavrov warned that Russia would retaliate in another statement published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official Telegram channel, saying "such reckless actions will not go unanswered." "The targets for retaliatory strikes and the timing of their execution by the Russian Armed Forces have been determined. At the same time, we do not intend to withdraw from the negotiation process with the United States," he added. The White House confirmed to Fox News on Monday that Trump spoke with Putin for the second time in two days, following the commander in chief’s Sunday meeting in Florida with Zelenskyy. ZELENSKYY DENIES RUSSIAN CLAIM THAT UKRAINE ATTACKED PUTIN RESIDENCE White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the call was "positive" and focused on discussions about the war in Ukraine. Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago Monday afternoon that he learned about the reported drone strike during the phone call with Putin earlier in the day. "This is not the right time. It's one thing to be offensive because they're offensive. It's another thing to attack his house. It's not the right time to do any of that and — can't do it. And I learned about it from President Putin, and I was very angry about it," he said. Trump on Sunday touted his meeting with Zelenskyy and senior Ukrainian officials as productive as discussions continued over potential pathways toward ending Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine. "I really believe we're probably, Mr. President, closer than — by far — closer than ever before with both parties," Trump said at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader. Trump said the thorniest unresolved issue remains land Russia wants but does not fully control, referring to territory in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, and suggested Kyiv would be better off making a deal sooner rather than later.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated in a post on X that Ukraine would like to have 30, 40 or even 50 years of security guarantees from the U.S. and that President Donald Trump said the U.S. will consider it. Zelenskyy met with Trump in Florida on Sunday, as his nation remains locked in a deadly, protracted war against Russia, and the U.S. administration aims to help broker peace. In a Monday post on X, the president of the embattled Eastern European nation indicated that Trump had "confirmed strong security guarantees" during their meeting. TRUMP, ZELENSKYY SAY UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSE BUT ‘THORNY ISSUES’ REMAIN AFTER FLORIDA TALKS "He confirmed the details that had been developed up to this point by our negotiating teams regarding these security guarantees, and he confirmed that they would be put to a vote by the United States Congress. This is a very strong agreement," Zelenskyy noted. During a joint press conference alongside Zelenskyy on Sunday, Trump was asked whether he offered any promises or assurances of security for Ukraine. "I did. We wanna work with Europe," Trump answered, adding that Europe will "take over a big part of it" but that the U.S. will assist. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE CRITICIZES TRUMP'S MEETINGS WITH ZELENSKYY, NETANYAHU: ‘CAN WE JUST DO AMERICA?' Zelenskyy, in another Monday post on X, indicated that Ukraine would like decades of security guarantees from the U.S. "In the documents, the guarantees are set for 15 years, with the possibility of extension. I raised this issue with the President. I told him that our war has already been going on for more than a decade, and therefore, we would very much like the guarantees to last longer. We would like to consider the possibility of 30, 40, or 50 years. It would then become a historic decision by President Trump. The President said that the U.S. would consider it," the foreign leader noted in the post. TRUMP SAYS RUSSIA, UKRAINE IN ‘FINAL STAGES’ OF TALKS, PREDICTS WAR WILL ‘END’ SOON OR ‘GO ON FOR A LONG TIME’ Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Monday for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

Sunday's talks between President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy could pave the way for the first call between Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in more than five years, a source familiar with the discussions said. And while the Mar-a-Lago meeting was framed as a step forward in the peace effort with Trump at the helm, the source also described how securing a direct Zelenskyy-Putin phone call would be a "diplomatic victory" for the president. "If Putin had joined in a call Sunday, this would have been the greatest achievement in the preparation of the peace talks and the first real step in the peace process," the source told Fox News Digital on condition of anonymity. "This would be [a] diplomatic victory for President Trump." FINNISH PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE DEAL CLOSER THAN ANY POINT DURING THE WAR "Trump seems to be the most successful mediator because the two of them, Putin and Zelenskyy, perceive each other emotionally, and it is a challenge." Trump confirmed Sunday that he had spoken with Putin ahead of the Zelenskyy meeting, calling the conversation "good and very productive" in a Truth Social post. "I do believe that we have the makings of a deal," Trump also told reporters as he stood next to Zelenskyy after he arrived in Florida on Sunday, adding he believes the process can "move very rapidly." "I think we’re in the final stages of talking, and we’re going to see," Trump said. "Otherwise, it’s going to go on for a long time. It’ll either end, or it’s going to go on for a long time, and millions of additional people are going to be killed," the president added. The Florida meeting came days after Zelenskyy also said he had had a "good conversation" with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, both of whom were also present Sunday. ZELENSKYY SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH TRUMP 'BEFORE THE NEW YEAR' As Zelenskyy approached Sunday's meeting, the source said the Ukrainian leader was likely feeling anxious. "Zelenskyy is usually very nervous before such conversations with President Trump," the source said. "He concentrates for a long time and studies the notes that the International Policy Department and the Foreign Ministry prepare for him." Sunday also marked the third in-person meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy since Trump returned to office. At the center of discussions was a U.S.-backed, 20-point peace plan emerging from weeks of negotiations that would need compromise from Kyiv and Moscow to engage and perhaps speak directly with Zelenskyy, the source said. TRUMP SUGGESTS HE'LL CALL FINAL SHOTS ON PEACE DEAL AHEAD OF ZELENSKYY MEETING: 'WE'LL SEE WHAT HE'S GOT' "The one difficulty they have is that Putin has refused to talk to Zelenskyy since July 2020, when they spoke over the Wagner scandal and the failed operation to detain Russian Wagner militants." "After that, Zelenskyy repeatedly tried to talk to Putin, but he refused." "There were windows of opportunity for a conversation in August and September 2024, but they disappeared again when Ukraine invaded the Kursk region," the source said. The last direct contact between the two leaders followed a botched Ukrainian operation targeting Russian Wagner mercenaries. Ukrainian intelligence lured the mercenaries to Belarus and planned to intercept them on their way from Minsk to Istanbul, before the men were arrested, per The Kyiv Independent . ZELENSKYY READY TO PRESENT NEW PEACE PROPOSALS TO US AND RUSSIA AFTER WORKING WITH EUROPEAN TALKS "That last call between Zelenskyy and Putin came as Ukraine was trying to capture a group of Russian Wagner fighters," the source said. "The operation failed." Even before communications broke down entirely, relations between the two leaders were strained, the source said. "Before that point in 2020, calls between Zelenskyy and Putin were never friendly, and there was always tension between them. During talks, Putin was always taciturn, and Zelenskyy tried to establish a rapport." "Zelenskyy always acted subservient toward Putin and pretended to be in a good mood, almost as if he was playing a role on stage," the source explained. "He talked a lot and read from his notes, afraid of forgetting something. Sometimes he would stumble over his words or lose track of punctuation." PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE' "When Putin stayed silent, Zelenskyy would always ask politely, ‘What do you think, Vladimir Vladimirovich?’" "Putin was just never talkative," the source said. The Florida talks came as Kyiv signaled a potential shift in its negotiating posture. Zelenskyy has said the 20-point plan, which U.S. officials say is about 90% complete, could include limited Ukrainian troop withdrawals from parts of eastern Ukraine without formally recognizing Russian control, along with the creation of demilitarized zones. He also floated submitting the plan to a national referendum if Moscow agrees to a 60-day ceasefire. Zelenskyy has drawn a firm line on security guarantees, insisting Ukraine needs legally binding assurances from the U.S. to deter future Russian aggression. TRUMP TOUTS 'PROGRESS' ON UKRAINE-RUSSIA DEAL, ADMITS IT'S 'ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT' CONFLICTS TO SOLVE "For us, it is very important that there is a signal that we want legally binding security guarantees," Zelenskyy told Ukrainian journalists Saturday. "This primarily depends on President Trump," he added. "Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war," Zelenskyy also wrote on X this weekend. "For us, priority number one — or the only priority — is ending the war. For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States." Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kremlin and President Zelenskyy's office for comment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Saturday that his country "is willing to do whatever it takes" to end its war with Russia ahead of a meeting Sunday in Florida with President Donald Trump. In a series of posts on X, the Ukrainian leader said, "If the whole world – Europe and America – is on our side, together we will stop Putin," but, "if anyone – whether the U.S. or Europe – is on Russia’s side, this means the war will continue." "There are no other options here. And this is a risk for all countries in the world. Because Russia will not stop, regardless of any agreements, any eloquent messages from them. They will not stop at Ukraine," Zelenskyy warned. He is set to meet with Trump in Florida on Sunday, where Zelenskyy said he will share a 20-point peace proposal to end the conflict with Russia. The posts came after Russia launched a fresh overnight attack against Kyiv involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Zelenskyy said the attack put the "true attitude" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle on display. ZELENSKYY SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH TRUMP 'BEFORE THE NEW YEAR' The overnight blitz in Ukraine’s capital left at least one person dead and 27 injured, local authorities told the Associated Press. "Another Russian attack is still ongoing: since last night, there have been almost 500 drones – a large number of ‘shaheds’ – as well as 40 missiles, including Kinzhals. The primary target is Kyiv – energy facilities and civilian infrastructure," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Saturday morning. "Regrettably, there have been hits, and ordinary residential buildings have been damaged. Rescuers are searching for a person trapped under the rubble of one of them." "There have been many questions over the past few days – so where is Russia’s response to the proposals to end the war offered by the United States and the world? Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and ‘shaheds’ speak for them. This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle," Zelenskyy added. "They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world." Zelenskyy also said Saturday that, "If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps." "The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it," he declared. US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH 'LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE' BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA Zelenskyy added in another X post later Saturday morning that, "Ukraine did not start this war. Russia started it." "Ukraine supported President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to many different compromises, and this is documented in our draft agreements, in our 20-point plan. Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. For us, priority number one – or the only priority – is ending the war," Zelenskyy continued. "For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States. And this includes air defenses – which are currently insufficient, weaponry – which is currently insufficient, and money – thankfully, there is now a European decision, but, frankly, there is a constant shortage of funds, in particular for the production of weapons and, most importantly, drones," he said. Trump, ahead of the meeting with Zelenskyy, has said he will call the final shots on a peace deal to end the conflict. "He doesn’t have anything until I approve it," Trump told Politico Friday. "So we’ll see what he’s got." The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that it carried out a "massive strike" overnight, using "long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles" and drones, on energy infrastructure facilities "used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," as well as "Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises." The ministry said the strike came in response to Ukraine’s attacks on "civilian objects" in Russia. Earlier on Saturday, the ministry said its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones over the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Adygeya overnight. "Contrary to President Trump’s expectations and despite the readiness to make compromises by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia attacked again Kyiv’s residential districts," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. "I will speak today about the chances for peace with the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and the EU." Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancey and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Saturday that his country "is willing to do whatever it takes" to end its war with Russia ahead of a meeting Sunday in Florida with President Donald Trump. In a series of posts on X, the Ukrainian leader said, "If the whole world – Europe and America – is on our side, together we will stop Putin," but, "if anyone – whether the U.S. or Europe – is on Russia’s side, this means the war will continue." "There are no other options here. And this is a risk for all countries in the world. Because Russia will not stop, regardless of any agreements, any eloquent messages from them. They will not stop at Ukraine," Zelenskyy warned. He is set to meet with Trump in Florida on Sunday, where Zelenskyy said he will share a 20-point peace proposal to end the conflict with Russia. The posts came after Russia launched a fresh overnight attack against Kyiv involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Zelenskyy said the attack put the "true attitude" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle on display. ZELENSKYY SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH TRUMP 'BEFORE THE NEW YEAR' The overnight blitz in Ukraine’s capital left at least one person dead and 27 injured, local authorities told the Associated Press. "Another Russian attack is still ongoing: since last night, there have been almost 500 drones – a large number of ‘shaheds’ – as well as 40 missiles, including Kinzhals. The primary target is Kyiv – energy facilities and civilian infrastructure," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Saturday morning. "Regrettably, there have been hits, and ordinary residential buildings have been damaged. Rescuers are searching for a person trapped under the rubble of one of them." "There have been many questions over the past few days – so where is Russia’s response to the proposals to end the war offered by the United States and the world? Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and ‘shaheds’ speak for them. This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle," Zelenskyy added. "They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world." Zelenskyy also said Saturday that, "If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps." "The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it," he declared. US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH 'LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE' BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA Zelenskyy added in another X post later Saturday morning that, "Ukraine did not start this war. Russia started it." "Ukraine supported President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to many different compromises, and this is documented in our draft agreements, in our 20-point plan. Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. For us, priority number one – or the only priority – is ending the war," Zelenskyy continued. "For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States. And this includes air defenses – which are currently insufficient, weaponry – which is currently insufficient, and money – thankfully, there is now a European decision, but, frankly, there is a constant shortage of funds, in particular for the production of weapons and, most importantly, drones," he said. Trump, ahead of the meeting with Zelenskyy, has said he will call the final shots on a peace deal to end the conflict. "He doesn’t have anything until I approve it," Trump told Politico Friday. "So we’ll see what he’s got." The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that it carried out a "massive strike" overnight, using "long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles" and drones, on energy infrastructure facilities "used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," as well as "Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises." The ministry said the strike came in response to Ukraine’s attacks on "civilian objects" in Russia. Earlier on Saturday, the ministry said its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones over the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Adygeya overnight. "Contrary to President Trump’s expectations and despite the readiness to make compromises by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia attacked again Kyiv’s residential districts," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. "I will speak today about the chances for peace with the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and the EU." Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancey and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Saturday that his country "is willing to do whatever it takes" to end its war with Russia ahead of a meeting Sunday in Florida with President Donald Trump. In a series of posts on X, the Ukrainian leader said, "If the whole world – Europe and America – is on our side, together we will stop Putin," but, "if anyone – whether the U.S. or Europe – is on Russia’s side, this means the war will continue." "There are no other options here. And this is a risk for all countries in the world. Because Russia will not stop, regardless of any agreements, any eloquent messages from them. They will not stop at Ukraine," Zelenskyy warned. He is set to meet with Trump in Florida on Sunday, where Zelenskyy said he will share a 20-point peace proposal to end the conflict with Russia. The posts came after Russia launched a fresh overnight attack against Kyiv involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Zelenskyy said the attack put the "true attitude" of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his inner circle on display. ZELENSKYY SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH TRUMP 'BEFORE THE NEW YEAR' The overnight blitz in Ukraine’s capital left at least one person dead and 27 injured, local authorities told the Associated Press. "Another Russian attack is still ongoing: since last night, there have been almost 500 drones – a large number of ‘shaheds’ – as well as 40 missiles, including Kinzhals. The primary target is Kyiv – energy facilities and civilian infrastructure," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Saturday morning. "Regrettably, there have been hits, and ordinary residential buildings have been damaged. Rescuers are searching for a person trapped under the rubble of one of them." "There have been many questions over the past few days – so where is Russia’s response to the proposals to end the war offered by the United States and the world? Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and ‘shaheds’ speak for them. This is the true attitude of Putin and his inner circle," Zelenskyy added. "They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering and increase their pressure on others around the world." Zelenskyy also said Saturday that, "If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps." "The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it," he declared. US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH 'LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE' BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA Zelenskyy added in another X post later Saturday morning that, "Ukraine did not start this war. Russia started it." "Ukraine supported President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to many different compromises, and this is documented in our draft agreements, in our 20-point plan. Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war. For us, priority number one – or the only priority – is ending the war," Zelenskyy continued. "For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States. And this includes air defenses – which are currently insufficient, weaponry – which is currently insufficient, and money – thankfully, there is now a European decision, but, frankly, there is a constant shortage of funds, in particular for the production of weapons and, most importantly, drones," he said. Trump, ahead of the meeting with Zelenskyy, has said he will call the final shots on a peace deal to end the conflict. "He doesn’t have anything until I approve it," Trump told Politico Friday. "So we’ll see what he’s got." The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that it carried out a "massive strike" overnight, using "long-range precision-guided weapons from land, air, and sea, including Kinzhal hypersonic aeroballistic missiles" and drones, on energy infrastructure facilities "used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," as well as "Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises." The ministry said the strike came in response to Ukraine’s attacks on "civilian objects" in Russia. Earlier on Saturday, the ministry said its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones over the Russian regions of Krasnodar and Adygeya overnight. "Contrary to President Trump’s expectations and despite the readiness to make compromises by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia attacked again Kyiv’s residential districts," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. "I will speak today about the chances for peace with the leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and the EU." Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancey and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Donald Trump entered 2025 pledging to end wars and reorient U.S. foreign policy around what he repeatedly described as "peace through strength." Throughout the year, Trump has cast his diplomacy as peace-focused, telling reporters, "We think we have a way of getting peace," and publicly arguing that his record merited a Nobel Peace Prize. The U.S. State Department echoed that framing in its year-end summary of diplomatic efforts, highlighting initiatives it said aimed to "secure peace around the world." By the close of 2025, several conflicts saw impressive diplomatic progress, while others were still experiencing issues after years of hatred and violence. 'IT TOOK 3,000 YEARS': TRUMP HERALDS 'GOLDEN AGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST' IN SPEECHES TO ARAB LEADERS, ISRAEL The most consequential diplomatic development of the year came in early October, when the Trump administration helped broker a ceasefire framework between Israel and Hamas. The agreement halted large-scale fighting after months of intense combat and enabled the release of all remaining hostages from Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, except for the body of Ron Gvili, which remains held captive by Hamas terrorists. The administration later cited the ceasefire as a central element of its 2025 diplomatic record. While the truce largely held through the end of the year, core issues including Gaza’s long-term governance, demilitarization and enforcement mechanisms remained unresolved, as well as rebuilding the enclave after the massive destruction and displacement. U.S. officials continued working with regional partners on next steps as fighting paused, as Israel's Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Trump next week for talks on Gaza and other issues. In August, Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House for a U.S.-brokered peace declaration aimed at addressing decades of conflict tied to Nagorno-Karabakh. The agreement focused on transit routes, economic cooperation and regional connectivity and was promoted by the administration as a historic step. While the historic declaration was signed, implementation and deeper reconciliation is still ongoing. Ukraine remained the most ambitious and elusive peace target of Trump’s 2025 agenda. The year opened with Trump insisting the war could be ended through direct U.S. engagement and leverage over both Kyiv and Moscow. Diplomacy intensified in August, when Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, a summit framed by the White House as a test of whether personal diplomacy could unlock a settlement. In parallel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was received at the White House, where Trump reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine while signaling that any peace would require difficult compromises. U.S. officials explored security guarantees and economic incentives, while avoiding public commitments on borders or NATO membership. MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE By December, talks accelerated. Ukraine entered new rounds of U.S.-led negotiations, and Trump told reporters the sides were "getting close to something." On Christmas Zelenskyy said talks with U.S. officials had produced a 20-point plan and accompanying documents that include security guarantees involving Ukraine, the United States and European partners. He acknowledged the framework was not flawless but described it as a tangible step forward. Zelenskyy is reportedly readying a visit to meet with President Trump, possibly as soon as Sunday. Bloomberg reported that Russia views the 20-point plan agreed to between Ukraine and the U.S. as only a starting point . According to a person close to the Kremlin, Moscow intends to seek key changes, including additional restrictions on Ukraine’s military, arguing that the proposal lacks provisions important to Russia and leaves many questions unanswered. VENEZUELAN DISSIDENT MACHADO CREDITS TRUMP FOR ADVANCING FREEDOM MOVEMENT, DEDICATES NOBEL TO HIM In early December, Trump hosted the signing of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. The agreement reaffirmed commitments to end decades of conflict and expand economic cooperation through a regional integration framework. By the end of the year, Reuters and the Associated Press reported that armed groups remained active in eastern Congo, underscoring the fragility of the accord, though both sides seemed to be invested in a long-term peace. After a terrorist attack in Kashmir and retaliatory strikes raised fears of escalation, U.S. officials engaged in emergency diplomacy. Trump announced a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed rivals , with a potentially catastrophic escalation between the two nuclear powers avoided. On the sidelines of an ASEAN summit, Trump helped mediate a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand following months of border clashes. Diplomatic efforts led by ASEAN and supported by external parties are ongoing, but fresh clashes and mutual recriminations between Thailand and Cambodia continue to challenge peace prospects and have led to large-scale displacement and civilian harm. Following the recent flare-ups, and with offers for mediation from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a new ceasefire was agreed upon on Saturday to end weeks of fighting on the border. Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities , the Trump administration focused on containing escalation and reinforcing deterrence. No diplomatic agreement followed, but the confrontation did not expand into a broader regional war by year’s end. ISRAELI HOSTAGES FREED, IRAN HIT, CEASEFIRE HELD — 2025 SHATTERED IDEA THAT US WAS EXITING THE MIDDLE EAST Recently Israel warned that Iran might use its ballistic missile drills as a cover for a surprise attack. Sudan remained one of the world’s deadliest conflicts. U.S. diplomacy has focused primarily on efforts to halt fighting and expand humanitarian access rather than brokering a comprehensive peace. In December, Saudi Arabia and the United States presented Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan with a three-point proposal aimed at ending the war, facilitating aid delivery and transferring power to civilians, according to Sudan Tribune. As the year closed, Venezuela emerged as the United States’ clearest point of direct confrontation. The administration framed its posture as an extension of its broader "peace through strength" doctrine, even as the risk of escalation lingered. While the White House pursued de-escalation and negotiated arrangements elsewhere, its approach toward Nicolás Maduro relied almost entirely on pressure, not talks. Trump continued to cast Maduro as a criminal threat tied to drug trafficking, accusing him of rejecting the results of Venezuela’s last election and stealing the presidency. With no diplomatic channel open, the U.S. maintained sweeping sanctions and stepped up efforts against cartel networks linked to the regime. There was no peace process in sight, but some opposition figures and U.S. allies argued that sustained pressure could still force political change in 2026, and ultimately hasten the end of Maduro’s rule.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States are close to finalizing a framework of security guarantees and economic arrangements tied to a proposed peace plan, while Russia has signaled it will seek significant changes before any agreement to end the war. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Dec. 22, Zelenskyy said talks with U.S. officials had produced a 20-point plan and accompanying documents that include security guarantees involving Ukraine, the United States and European partners. He acknowledged the framework was not flawless but described it as a tangible step forward. "There are 20 points of the plan, probably not everything is perfect there, but this plan is there," Zelenskyy said. "There are security guarantees between us, the Europeans and the United States of America, there is a framework document." US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH 'LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE' BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA Zelenskyy said a separate bilateral document with Washington covering security guarantees is intended to be reviewed by the U.S. Congress , adding that key annexes critical to Ukraine’s military needs were largely agreed to. "I saw the first developments, there are almost 90%, to be honest, exactly those attachments that are important for us, what our army and Ukraine can count on," he said, describing the draft as "quite decent." He also said a first version of an agreement on Ukraine’s recovery had been prepared, calling it an economic strategy that, together with the security documents, forms "the basic block of all documents." Zelenskyy warned, however, that diplomacy has not reduced the immediate military threat from Russia. He criticized Moscow for rejecting proposals for a Christmas ceasefire , calling it a "bad signal," and warned of potential attacks during the holiday period. MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE "When Russia says there will be no Christmas ceasefire, I think that this is, in principle, always what they say, they emphasize intimidation," Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine faces an air-defense shortfall and urged civilians to remain vigilant. Reuters also reported that Zelenskyy confirmed Russian forces captured a border village in Ukraine’s Sumy region, taking dozens of civilians and 13 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner. He said Ukrainian troops refrained from striking Russian forces because civilians were present. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the account and that Russia had not commented. On the Russian side, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the U.S. peace proposals, with Moscow expected to formulate its position in the coming days, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency. Bloomberg News reported that Russia views the 20-point plan agreed to between Ukraine and the U.S. as only a starting point . According to a person close to the Kremlin, Moscow intends to seek key changes, including additional restrictions on Ukraine’s military, arguing that the proposal lacks provisions important to Russia and leaves many questions unanswered. The emerging positions underline a widening gap between Kyiv’s portrayal of progress toward security guarantees and Moscow’s insistence on renegotiating core elements of the U.S.-backed plan as diplomacy continues . Reuters contributed to this report.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and the United States are close to finalizing a framework of security guarantees and economic arrangements tied to a proposed peace plan, while Russia has signaled it will seek significant changes before any agreement to end the war. Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Dec. 22, Zelenskyy said talks with U.S. officials had produced a 20-point plan and accompanying documents that include security guarantees involving Ukraine, the United States and European partners. He acknowledged the framework was not flawless but described it as a tangible step forward. "There are 20 points of the plan, probably not everything is perfect there, but this plan is there," Zelenskyy said. "There are security guarantees between us, the Europeans and the United States of America, there is a framework document." US OFFICIALS TOUT PROGRESS IN TALKS TO REACH 'LASTING AND DURABLE PEACE' BETWEEN UKRAINE, RUSSIA Zelenskyy said a separate bilateral document with Washington covering security guarantees is intended to be reviewed by the U.S. Congress , adding that key annexes critical to Ukraine’s military needs were largely agreed to. "I saw the first developments, there are almost 90%, to be honest, exactly those attachments that are important for us, what our army and Ukraine can count on," he said, describing the draft as "quite decent." He also said a first version of an agreement on Ukraine’s recovery had been prepared, calling it an economic strategy that, together with the security documents, forms "the basic block of all documents." Zelenskyy warned, however, that diplomacy has not reduced the immediate military threat from Russia. He criticized Moscow for rejecting proposals for a Christmas ceasefire , calling it a "bad signal," and warned of potential attacks during the holiday period. MOMENTUM BUILDS IN UKRAINE PEACE PUSH, BUT EXPERTS FEAR PUTIN WON’T BUDGE "When Russia says there will be no Christmas ceasefire, I think that this is, in principle, always what they say, they emphasize intimidation," Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine faces an air-defense shortfall and urged civilians to remain vigilant. Reuters also reported that Zelenskyy confirmed Russian forces captured a border village in Ukraine’s Sumy region, taking dozens of civilians and 13 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner. He said Ukrainian troops refrained from striking Russian forces because civilians were present. Reuters noted it could not independently verify the account and that Russia had not commented. On the Russian side, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the U.S. peace proposals, with Moscow expected to formulate its position in the coming days, according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency. Bloomberg News reported that Russia views the 20-point plan agreed to between Ukraine and the U.S. as only a starting point . According to a person close to the Kremlin, Moscow intends to seek key changes, including additional restrictions on Ukraine’s military, arguing that the proposal lacks provisions important to Russia and leaves many questions unanswered. The emerging positions underline a widening gap between Kyiv’s portrayal of progress toward security guarantees and Moscow’s insistence on renegotiating core elements of the U.S.-backed plan as diplomacy continues . Reuters contributed to this report.

Kremlin envoy Kirill Dimitriev told reporters in the U.S. that peace talks with Ukraine are proceeding "constructively," even as Russian forces launched a deadly missile strike on Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa. "The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow," Dimitriev told press gathered Saturday for a meeting in Florida. Dimitriev met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff as well as President Donald Trump 's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. That meeting came after the U.S. side completed separate meetings with Ukrainian representatives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounded apprehensive about where peace talks stood when speaking to the press on Saturday. US ENVOY GAVE RUSSIAN AIDE TIPS ON HOW TO SELL UKRAINE DEAL TO TRUMP: REPORT "The key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with the Russians. At this point, I honestly don’t know, but I will know later today," he said. Russia's campaign against Ukraine has continued unabated despite the peace talks. A Saturday strike on Odesa killed eight people and injured 27 others. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing," and expressed confidence that Russia would achieve its goals by military force if Ukraine does not accept its peace terms. PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE' "Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared Friday during his annual news conference. "The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means," he continued. "However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin declared. Russia's peace terms have so far required Ukraine to give up vast swathes of territory, including some territory not already under Russian occupation. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kremlin envoy Kirill Dimitriev told reporters in the U.S. that peace talks with Ukraine are proceeding "constructively," even as Russian forces launched a deadly missile strike on Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa. "The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow," Dimitriev told press gathered Saturday for a meeting in Florida. Dimitriev met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff as well as President Donald Trump 's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. That meeting came after the U.S. side completed separate meetings with Ukrainian representatives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sounded apprehensive about where peace talks stood when speaking to the press on Saturday. US ENVOY GAVE RUSSIAN AIDE TIPS ON HOW TO SELL UKRAINE DEAL TO TRUMP: REPORT "The key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with the Russians. At this point, I honestly don’t know, but I will know later today," he said. Russia's campaign against Ukraine has continued unabated despite the peace talks. A Saturday strike on Odesa killed eight people and injured 27 others. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing," and expressed confidence that Russia would achieve its goals by military force if Ukraine does not accept its peace terms. PUTIN CALLS TRUMP’S PEACE PLAN A ‘STARTING POINT’ AS HE WARNS UKRAINE TO PULL BACK OR FACE 'FORCE' "Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared Friday during his annual news conference. "The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means," he continued. "However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin declared. Russia's peace terms have so far required Ukraine to give up vast swathes of territory, including some territory not already under Russian occupation. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow would refrain from launching new attacks on other nations provided his country is treated "with respect." The Kremlin made the remarks during his annual televised press conference in Moscow as concerns persist among European nations that Russia poses a security threat, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. "Will there be new special military operations? There will be no operations if you treat us with respect, if you observe our interests, just as we have constantly tried to observe yours," Putin said. TRUMP TOUTS 'TREMENDOUS PROGRESS' BUT SAYS HE'LL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY 'ONLY WHEN' PEACE DEAL IS FINAL Putin uses the phrase "special military operation" to describe Russia’s offensive in Ukraine , according to AFP. He added there would be no further Russian invasions "if you don't cheat us like you cheated us with NATO's eastward expansion," according to the BBC . The Russian leader also claimed he was "ready and willing" to end the war in Ukraine "peacefully," though he offered few details suggesting a willingness to compromise , the BBC reported. PUTIN CLAIMS 'TROOPS ARE ADVANCING,' WILL ACHIEVE GOALS AS EU APPROVES MASSIVE UKRAINE LOAN The yearly news conference, which typically runs at least four hours, features questions from reporters and members of the public across Russia. More than 2.5 million questions were submitted for this year's event, which focused heavily on the war in Ukraine, Reuters reported. Putin also noted during the event that the nation's "troops are advancing" and expressed confidence that Russia will accomplish its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not assent to Russia's terms during peace talks, according to The Associated Press. PUTIN DOUBLES DOWN ON BACKING MADURO AMID MOUNTING US PRESSURE ON VENEZUELA "Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared. As the war drags on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a loan of over $105 billion. Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing" and expressed confidence that Russia will accomplish its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not assent to Russia's terms during peace talks, according to The Associated Press. "Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared during his annual news conference, according to the outlet. As the war drags on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a more than $105 billion loan. PUTIN DERIDES EUROPEAN LEADERS AS HE INSISTS RUSSIA'S WAR GOALS IN UKRAINE WILL BE MET BY FORCE OR DIPLOMACY Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has conveyed his gratitude. "I am grateful to all leaders of the European Union for the European Council’s decision on €90 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2026–2027. This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience. It is important that Russian assets remain immobilized and that Ukraine has received a financial security guarantee for the coming years. Thank you for the result and for unity. Together, we are defending the future of our continent," he declared in a post on X. ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR US TO RESPOND TO ‘SIGNALS’ RUSSIA IS ‘PREPARING TO MAKE NEXT YEAR A YEAR OF WAR’ Putin has asserted that Russia will accomplish its objectives one way or the other. "The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means," he said, according to a Kremlin release about a Defense Ministry Board meeting earlier this week. "However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin declared. UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK President Donald Trump's administration has been striving to help broker an end to the war between the two nations. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing" and expressed confidence that Russia will accomplish its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not assent to Russia's terms during peace talks, according to The Associated Press. "Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared during his annual news conference, according to the outlet. As the war drags on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a more than $105 billion loan. PUTIN DERIDES EUROPEAN LEADERS AS HE INSISTS RUSSIA'S WAR GOALS IN UKRAINE WILL BE MET BY FORCE OR DIPLOMACY Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has conveyed his gratitude. "I am grateful to all leaders of the European Union for the European Council’s decision on €90 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2026–2027. This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience. It is important that Russian assets remain immobilized and that Ukraine has received a financial security guarantee for the coming years. Thank you for the result and for unity. Together, we are defending the future of our continent," he declared in a post on X. ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR US TO RESPOND TO ‘SIGNALS’ RUSSIA IS ‘PREPARING TO MAKE NEXT YEAR A YEAR OF WAR’ Putin has asserted that Russia will accomplish its objectives one way or the other. "The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means," he said, according to a Kremlin release about a Defense Ministry Board meeting earlier this week. "However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin declared. UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK President Donald Trump's administration has been striving to help broker an end to the war between the two nations. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russian President Vladimir Putin noted on Friday that the nation's "troops are advancing" and expressed confidence that Russia will accomplish its objectives through military means if Ukraine does not assent to Russia's terms during peace talks, according to The Associated Press. "Our troops are advancing all across the line of contact, faster in some areas or slower in some others, but the enemy is retreating in all sectors," Putin declared during his annual news conference, according to the outlet. As the war drags on, the European Union has just agreed to provide Ukraine with a more than $105 billion loan. PUTIN DERIDES EUROPEAN LEADERS AS HE INSISTS RUSSIA'S WAR GOALS IN UKRAINE WILL BE MET BY FORCE OR DIPLOMACY Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has conveyed his gratitude. "I am grateful to all leaders of the European Union for the European Council’s decision on €90 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2026–2027. This is significant support that truly strengthens our resilience. It is important that Russian assets remain immobilized and that Ukraine has received a financial security guarantee for the coming years. Thank you for the result and for unity. Together, we are defending the future of our continent," he declared in a post on X. ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR US TO RESPOND TO ‘SIGNALS’ RUSSIA IS ‘PREPARING TO MAKE NEXT YEAR A YEAR OF WAR’ Putin has asserted that Russia will accomplish its objectives one way or the other. "The goals of the special military operation will undoubtedly be achieved. We would prefer to accomplish this and address the root causes of the conflict through diplomatic means," he said, according to a Kremlin release about a Defense Ministry Board meeting earlier this week. "However, if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means," Putin declared. UKRAINE SAYS IT CARRIED OUT FIRST-EVER UNDERWATER DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SUBMARINE IN NOVOROSSIYSK President Donald Trump's administration has been striving to help broker an end to the war between the two nations. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned on Wednesday that Moscow will retaliate if European governments deploy troops to Ukraine or seize frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv, according to Reuters. Lavrov delivered the remarks before the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, outlining Moscow’s stance on the war and its clash with the West. Reuters reported that Lavrov insisted Russia does not seek war with Europe but is prepared to act if it views Western countries as escalating the conflict. "We will respond to any hostile steps, including the deployment of European military contingents in Ukraine and the expropriation of Russian assets. And we are already prepared for this response," Lavrov said, according to Reuters. Lavrov also praised President Donald Trump ’s approach to a potential settlement, calling him the "only Western leader" who understands what he described as the reasons the war was "inevitable." He said Moscow appreciates Trump’s interest in dialogue but noted Trump is "not only in no hurry to lift, but is actually increasing" sanctions on Russia, Reuters reported. EUROPEAN TALKS RESHAPE UKRAINE’S PEACE PLAN AS ZELENSKYY REFUSES TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS Trump, speaking later on Monday at the White House, said he held calls with European leaders about the war. "The leaders of France, we spoke to and Germany and U.K., … we discussed Ukraine in pretty strong words, and we’ll see what happens. And we’re waiting to hear answers before we progress. You know, we’re not spending any money in Ukraine." Asked by a reporter for clarification, the president said: "I think we had some little disputes about people… They would like us to go to a meeting over the weekend in Europe, and we’ll make a determination depending on what they come back with. We don’t want to be wasting time… Sometimes you have to let people fight it out, and sometimes you don’t… you’re losing thousands of people a week, and it’s ridiculous." As Lavrov accused Europe of obstructing peace efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced what he called the first formal meeting with senior Trump administration officials on Ukraine’s reconstruction. EX-CIA STATION CHIEF WARNS PUTIN USING TALKS TO GAIN LEVERAGE AS UKRAINE DELEGATION MEETS TOP TRUMP OFFICIALS In a post on X on Wednesday, Zelenskyy wrote: "Together with our team, I held a productive discussion with the American side... In fact, this could be considered the first meeting of the group that will work on a document concerning the reconstruction and economic recovery of Ukraine." He said they discussed "key elements for recovery, various mechanisms, and visions for reconstruction " and reviewed updates to the "20 points of the framework document for ending the war." Zelenskyy added that "overall security… will determine economic security and underpin a safe business environment." The Ukrainian president said both sides agreed to continue talks, adding: "As always, there will be no delays on our side. We are working to deliver results." He closed by thanking Trump, writing: "I thank President Trump and his team for their substantive work and support." Later on Monday, Zelenskyy again posted on X where he said, "The 20 points for ending the war form a fundamental document. We are actively working on the key steps – they must be doable. From this fundamental document, we are developing at least two additional ones. The first is on security – regarding security guarantees with the United States. The second is on the economy, covering reconstruction and joint investment." Reuters contributed to this article.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky y said his country could be ready to hold its first election since Russia's invasion in 2022 as long as partners can give him security guarantees. Zelenskyy, whose term was set to end in May 2024, said there are two main issues that have to be addressed before Ukraine can hold elections : security and the legislative framework. Zelenskyy said he has asked lawmakers from his party to work on legislative proposals to allow Ukraine to hold elections while the country remains under martial law, according to The Associated Press. Because Ukrainian law prohibits elections when martial law is in place, Zelenskyy has declined to call a vote, a stance widely supported by Ukrainians, according to the AP. The country has been under martial law since the war with Russia began in February 2022. EUROPEAN TALKS RESHAPE UKRAINE’S PEACE PLAN AS ZELENSKYY REFUSES TERRITORIAL CONCESSIONS "Moreover, I am now asking — and I am stating this openly — for the United States, possibly together with our European colleagues, to help me ensure security for holding elections," Zelenskyy told reporters on WhatsApp, according to reports. "And then, within the next 60–90 days, Ukraine will be ready to hold them." Zelenskyy's change in tune comes after President Donald Trump accused him of using the war as an excuse to not hold elections. The U.S. president, who has called Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections" in the past, warned that Ukraine was on the verge of not being a democracy anymore. "They haven’t had an election in a long time," Trump told Politico . "You know, they talk about a democracy, but it gets to a point where it’s not a democracy anymore." NO UKRAINE PEACE DEAL AFTER LENGTHY FIVE-HOUR PUTIN-WITKOFF-KUSHNER MEETING In his interview with Politico, Trump also accused Zelenskyy of not being up-to-date on peace talks, saying he heard the Ukrainian president had not read the White House's most recent proposal. The Trump administration has been working to secure a peace deal to end the war that has gone on for nearly four years. Late last month, the administration presented a 28-point plan that Ukrainian and European leaders thought was too deferential to Russia’s demands. Ukrainian officials met with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and whittled the plan down. "We are working very actively on all components of potential steps toward ending the war," Zelenskyy posted on X on Tuesday. "The Ukrainian and European components are now more developed, and we are ready to present them to our partners in the U.S. Together with the American side, we expect to swiftly make the potential steps as doable as possible." "We are committed to a real peace and remain in constant contact with the United States," he added. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the State Department for comment.

Russia launched a major attack against Ukraine overnight as talks between Ukraine and the U.S. continued in Florida this week. Moscow sent 653 drones and 51 missiles across Ukraine, leaving eight people injured, Ukrainian officials said. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attacks, writing on X, "We must continue to put pressure on Russia to force it towards peace." Macron said he plans to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and their British and German counterparts in London Monday. EX-CIA STATION CHIEF WARNS PUTIN USING TALKS TO GAIN LEVERAGE AS UKRAINE DELEGATION MEETS TOP TRUMP OFFICIALS Zelenskyy said Saturday he had a "substantive phone call" with American officials involved in the talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Miami. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday shared a readout of the talks, which also included President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The readout called the talks "constructive discussions on advancing a credible pathway toward a durable and just peace in Ukraine ." "American and Ukrainian parties underscored that an end to the war and credible steps toward ceasefire and de-escalation are necessary to prevent renewed aggression and to enable Ukraine’s comprehensive redevelopment plan, designed to make the nation stronger and more prosperous than before the war," it said. PUTIN REJECTS KEY PARTS OF US PEACE PLAN AS KREMLIN OFFICIAL WARNS EUROPE FACES NEW WAR RISK: REPORT After Russia’s Friday night barrage, Ukraine’s air force said 29 locations were hit, and the military was able to shoot down 585 drones and 30 missiles. Three of the eight wounded were hurt in the Kyiv region, local officials reported. The "massive" attack also targeted power stations in the country, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant temporarily lost power overnight, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Zaporizhzhia is under Russian control and not in use, but it needs power to cool its shutdown reactors to prevent a catastrophic incident. Zelenskyy said a drone strike had also "burned down" the train station in the city of Fastiv near Kyiv. The general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces later said Ukrainian forces said its military hit Russia’s Ryazan Oil Refinery .