Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he expects to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in the near future, raising the prospect of major diplomatic decisions before the end of the year as Washington intensifies efforts to broker an end to the war with Russia.
The planned talks would mark a critical moment in U.S.-Ukraine diplomacy, with Kyiv seeking high-level engagement on security guarantees, reconstruction, and the parameters of any potential peace settlement.
Speaking after a fresh round of negotiations between Ukrainian and U.S. officials, Zelenskiy said the two sides had agreed to hold talks at the presidential level soon. “We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level — with President Trump in the near future,” Zelenskiy said in a post on X. “A lot can be decided before the New Year.”
Zelenskiy has repeatedly argued that the most sensitive issues — including any discussion of territorial concessions — must be handled directly by national leaders rather than lower-level negotiators.
The announcement followed meetings on Thursday between Zelenskiy and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, as well as Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and a key adviser.
According to Zelenskiy, discussions focused on a broader framework aimed at ending the conflict and laying the groundwork for Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction. He said several documents tied to the initiative were close to completion.
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Some materials were “nearly ready,” while others were “fully prepared,” he said, signaling progress but not yet a finalized agreement.
Earlier this week, Zelenskiy presented a 20-point draft peace plan, describing it as Ukraine’s primary roadmap toward ending the war. The proposal calls for long-term security guarantees to prevent renewed Russian aggression.
However, Ukrainian and U.S. officials have not reached consensus on territorial issues, which remain among the most contentious points. Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv cede occupied regions, a position Ukraine has consistently rejected.
Control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, also remains unresolved and subject to further negotiations, Zelenskiy said.
The expected Zelenskiy–Trump meeting could clarify Washington’s diplomatic strategy and determine whether momentum toward negotiations can be sustained before year’s end.