Zelenskyy visits Canada en route to US for Trump meet as Russia pounds Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Canada's prime minister en route to US talks with Donald Trump, hours after Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv and claimed new battlefield gains.



Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump.

Agence France-Presse
New Delhi,

Dec 28, 2025

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Canada Saturday for talks on his way to a meeting with US President Donald Trump, hours after Russia pummelled Kyiv with drones and missiles in its latest attack on the capital.

Later Saturday, Russia also claimed fresh gains on the ground with the capture of two towns at different spots along the frontlines.

Zelenskyy said the Russian onslaught showed Moscow had no intention of ending the invasion it launched in February 2022 and which has killed tens of thousands of people.

Before scheduled talks with Trump in Florida on Sunday, Zelenskyy met in Halifax with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said the latest Russian attack underscored the need to stand by Ukraine.

"We have the conditions... of a just and lasting peace, but that requires a willing Russia, and the barbarism that we saw overnight... shows just how important it is that we stand with Ukraine," said Carney.

Russia has accused Ukraine and its European backers of trying to "torpedo" a previous US-brokered plan to stop the fighting.

Adding to pressure on the battlefield, Russia announced on Saturday it had captured two more towns in eastern Ukraine, Myrnograd and Guliaipole.

"If the authorities in Kyiv don't want to settle this business peacefully, we'll resolve all the problems before us by military means," Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday.

The overnight barrage of drones and missiles targeting Kyiv killed two people, wounded dozens and cut power and heating to more than a million of the region's residents during freezing temperatures, Ukraine authorities said.

Some 2,600 residential buildings were hit in the attack, as well as more than 300 schools, pre-schools or social services buildings, said Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko.

Zelensky said some 500 drones and 40 missiles had pounded the capital and its surrounding region.

"Russian representatives engage in lengthy talks, but in reality, Kinzhals and Shaheds speak for them," he said.

"They do not want to end the war and seek to use every opportunity to cause Ukraine even greater suffering," he added.

During the Russian onslaught, which lasted 10 hours, AFP reporters in Kyiv heard loud explosions, some accompanied by bright flashes that turned the sky orange.

The Russian army said it used hypersonic missiles and drones to target infrastructure and energy facilities used by Ukraine's military, as well as military sites.
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Neighbouring Poland, a NATO member, scrambled jets and put air defences on alert during the attack, its military said on social media.

Just as Zelensky flew out of the country, Ukraine's anti-corruption agency announced a new probe which it said implicated some MPs.

SECURITY GUARANTEES SHOULD BE STRONG

Sunday's meeting in Florida is to focus on a new, 20-point plan that would freeze the war on its current front line. It could require Ukraine to pull back troops from the east, allowing the creation of demilitarised buffer zones, according to details revealed by Zelenskyy this week.

The new plan, formulated with Ukraine's input, is Kyiv's most explicit acknowledgement yet of possible territorial concessions.

It is a marked departure from an initial 28-point proposal by Washington last month that adhered to many of Russia's core demands.

Trump, speaking to news outlet Politico on Friday, said of Zelenskyy's plan that "he doesn't have anything until I approve it". He added: "So we'll see what he's got."

Part of the plan includes separate US-Ukraine bilateral agreements on security guarantees, reconstruction and the economy.

Zelenskyy said those were changing daily. "As for sensitive issues, we will discuss Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," he added.

Zelenskyy was to brief EU allies after his meeting with Carney.

Zelenskyy added Saturday that the aim of the Florida talks was to reduce unresolved issues to a minimum.

"Of course, today there are red lines for Ukraine and Ukrainian people. There are compromise proposals. All of these issues are very sensitive," he said on X.

Meanwhile, Ukraine needed European and US support to acquire weapons and funds, both of which were insufficient, Zelensky said "in particular for the production of weapons and, most importantly, drones".

In negotiations, Ukraine's "most important consideration if we take certain steps is that security guarantees should be strong and we should be protected", he said.

Ukraine is working with the US on a roadmap for the country's reconstruction, said Zelenskyy, which will require between $700 billion and USD 800 billion.

- Ends

Published By:
Aashish Vashistha

On His Way to the United States, the President Held a Meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada

27 December 2025 

On his way to Florida, where on December 28, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Head of State met in Halifax with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.

The President expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister and to all of Canada for their support of Ukraine throughout these years of war.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that last night Russia carried out another strike against Ukraine, launching nearly 500 drones and dozens of missiles.

“This attack is another response from Russia to our peace efforts. It once again shows that Putin does not want peace. And we want peace. He is a man of war, but he is afraid to speak about it publicly,” the Head of State emphasized.

Mark Carney stated that there is currently the possibility of achieving a just and lasting peace, but that requires a willingness from Russia.

“The barbarism that we saw overnight, the attack on Kyiv, shows just how important it is that we stand with Ukraine during this difficult time,” the Prime Minister said.

Mark Carney highlighted that Canada supports Ukraine militarily and announced the allocation of 2.5 billion Canadian dollars in economic assistance.

“Moscow has turned down even the proposals for a Christmas ceasefire and is intensifying the brutality of its missile and drone strikes. This is a clear signal of how they truly regard diplomacy there. So far, not seriously enough. Therefore, a sufficient level of support for Ukraine is needed. And a sufficient level of pressure on Russia is needed as well,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated.

During the meeting, the leaders discussed the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and the existing diplomatic opportunities. The President and the Prime Minister share common positions on many key issues.

The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada Held a Joint Online Call with European Leaders

27 December 2025 - 22:50

In Halifax, on his way to Florida for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, held an online call with President of France Emmanuel Macron, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Federal Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz, President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, President of the European Council António Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Jonathan Powell.

During the conversation, they went over the most fundamental elements of the draft key documents that the Presidents of Ukraine and the U.S. will discuss tomorrow.

“Strong positions are needed both at the front and in diplomacy to prevent Putin from manipulating and evading a real and just end to the war. The world has sufficient strength to guarantee security and peace,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The participants coordinated a joint European position on the peace process and expressed support for American efforts and for Ukraine.

The conversation also addressed the security guarantees that Europe will provide to Ukraine.

Additionally, the Head of State proposed a schedule of meetings for the coming days and weeks.