Zelensky to Meet Trump Amid Tensions Over Ukraine Peace Plan, Russia Accuses EU of 'Torpedoing' Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with US President Donald Trump in Florida this weekend to discuss a new peace proposal for the conflict in Ukraine. However, Russia has accused Zelensky and his European Union backers of trying to undermine the efforts. The meeting comes as Trump's administration has been working to broker a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths since February 2022. The latest proposal, a 20-point plan, would freeze the current front line and allow Ukraine to withdraw troops from the east, where demilitarized buffer zones could be created. The plan has been met with skepticism by Russia, which has accused the EU of trying to 'torpedo' the efforts. Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said that the proposal 'differs radically' from the initial plan and that any deal must remain within the limits set by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in August. Zelensky said that the meeting with Trump will focus on security guarantees, reconstruction, and the economy, as well as sensitive issues such as the eastern region of Donbas and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. He expressed skepticism over whether Russia genuinely wants to halt its invasion, saying that 'Russia is always looking for reasons not to agree.' The new plan has been seen as a concession by Ukraine, which has agreed to withdraw from some areas in the east. However, Russia has shown little inclination to abandon its hardline territorial demands, including a full withdrawal from Donbas and an end to efforts to join NATO. The United States is acting as an intermediary between Ukraine and Russia, awaiting a response to the latest proposal.