Zelenskiy Seeks Urgent Meeting with Trump Amid Ongoing Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has expressed his desire for a new meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the progress of peace negotiations in Ukraine. The talks, which are being held in Paris, have been focused on two key issues: the control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the Donetsk region. Zelenskiy believes that the U.S. has been 'productive' in its efforts to secure a ceasefire, but is urging Trump to increase pressure on Russia, which has been slow to respond to the peace push. The Ukrainian president also suggested that the U.S. could take action against Russian ally Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of brutality in Ukraine. The talks in Paris have resulted in commitments from Ukraine's allies to back up a ceasefire with guarantees such as a multinational troop presence. However, Zelenskiy has expressed concerns that these commitments are not yet legally binding, and that Ukraine's parliament has yet to approve them. The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear facility, is a major sticking point in the negotiations. Kyiv has refused to pull out of the Donetsk region, which Russia has failed to fully occupy despite occupying large areas. The U.S. has proposed a free economic zone in the region if Ukraine withdraws from its controlled areas, but Kyiv has rejected this proposal. Zelenskiy has also expressed concerns that Ukraine's allies may be asking for too much in the negotiations, and that the country may be expected to make concessions that are too painful. He has urged his allies to increase pressure on Moscow and to avoid placing additional demands on Ukraine. The Ukrainian president has expressed optimism that the war could be concluded by mid-2026, but acknowledged that much work remains to be done in the negotiations.