Powerful explosions were heard in Kyiv early Saturday as Russia launched missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital and several other regions, just hours before President Volodymyr Zelensky was due to hold what he described as a key meeting with US President Donald Trump aimed at ending nearly four years of war.
Ukraine&rsquo;s air defence systems were activated as explosions echoed across Kyiv, with the military reporting missile launches and the air force warning that Russian drones were targeting the capital as well as regions in the northeast and south. An air raid alert remained in force for around four hours, though there were no immediate reports of casualties, major damage or power outages.
The overnight strikes came ahead of Zelensky&rsquo;s scheduled talks with Trump in Florida on Sunday. Zelensky said the discussions would focus on one of the most contentious issues in negotiations&mdash;territorial control after a potential halt to fighting that began with Russia&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Europe&rsquo;s deadliest conflict since World War II.
Russia did not immediately comment on the latest attacks. Earlier this week, Moscow had targeted Ukraine&rsquo;s energy infrastructure and intensified strikes on the southern Odesa region, home to the country&rsquo;s main seaports.
Territory remains the central diplomatic stumbling block as efforts to reach a settlement intensify. Zelensky said a 20-point draft peace framework, driven largely by Washington, was about 90% complete. He also noted that a security guarantees agreement between Ukraine and the United States was close to finalisation, calling it crucial after previous guarantees in the post-Soviet era failed to prevent aggression.
Zelensky indicated that significant progress could be made before the end of the year. Trump, for his part, said the United States was leading the process and asserted that any deal would ultimately require his approval. He expressed confidence that his meeting with Zelensky would be productive and said he expected to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.
Beyond territorial questions, control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant&mdash;Europe&rsquo;s largest&mdash;remains a major point of contention. The facility was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of the war. Moscow is also demanding that Ukraine withdraw from parts of the Donetsk region that Russian troops have not fully occupied, as part of its broader objective to control the Donbas region, which includes Luhansk.
Ukraine, however, wants the fighting frozen along current front lines. Under a proposed US compromise, a free economic zone could be established if Ukraine cedes parts of Donetsk, though the details are yet to be finalised.
Zelensky has said that if he fails to secure US backing for Ukraine&rsquo;s position on territory, he would consider putting the 20-point plan to a national referendum, provided Russia agrees to a 60-day ceasefire to allow preparations and voting. He has also called for increased pressure on Moscow.
Russian officials have indicated that Kyiv&rsquo;s version of the peace plan differs from what Moscow has been discussing with Washington, but they have suggested the process may be approaching a turning point. The Kremlin has confirmed that senior Russian officials have been in contact with members of the Trump administration after receiving US proposals on a possible settlement, though it has not revealed Moscow&rsquo;s response.
As diplomacy gathers pace, the latest attacks underscore the fragility of the situation on the ground and the high stakes surrounding the upcoming talks.

Ukraine's air force also announced a countrywide air alert

Russian missiles, drones strike Ukraine as peace talks focus on territory and security

Explosions Hit Kyiv Ahead of Zelensky–Trump Talks

Russian missiles, drones strike Ukraine as peace talks focus on territory and security

December 27, 2025 | 12:08 IST