On Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will seek a fresh meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump as negotiators tackle two key sticking points in peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Under U.S. pressure to secure a ceasefire, Kyiv is asking for long-term security guaranteeslasting more than 15 yearsand is resisting Russian demands to cede the Donetsk region and hand over control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. 🕊️🔒
Speaking over WhatsApp, Zelenskyy said he hopes to test Trump's openness to Ukraine's proposal and urged him to increase pressure on the Kremlin. He said, "They have the tools, and they know how to use them." 💬
In a bold comparison, Zelenskyy suggested the U.S. could apply tactics from its recent operation against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to pressure Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. "Maybe then Putin would think twice," he said. 🤔
This week in Paris, U.S. and Ukrainian officials explored land options and nuclear safeguards. Allies pledged to back a ceasefire with multinational troops, but Kyiv says formal, legally binding guarantees must still pass national parliaments. 🗓️
On Donetsk, Ukraine refuses to give up its industrial heartland despite partial occupation by Russia. Envoys even floated creating a free economic zone if Ukraine withdraws from some areas. At the Zaporizhzhia plant—Europe's largest nuclear facility—experts are racing to ensure robust safety measures on both sides of the ceasefire line. ⚛️
With ideas on the table, Ukraine and its allies are racing against time to turn political promises into binding commitments—and Zelenskyy is counting on Trump's support to tip the balance. ⚡
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Zelenskyy seeks new Trump meeting as negotiators tackle land issue
cgtn.com
