Trump to Meet Zelenskyy in Davos Amid Ukraine Winter Crisis/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Ukraine faces deadly winter conditions and ongoing Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. With most of Kyiv without heat or power, the humanitarian crisis worsens. Talks may center on a U.S.-backed peace framework and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting and Ukraine Crisis Quick Looks
- Trump confirms he will meet with President Zelenskyy on Thursday in Davos
- Over half of Kyiv remains without power following Russian strikes
- Temperatures in Ukraine plunge to –20°C, deepening the humanitarian crisis
- U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expected to engage both Ukraine and Russia in peace talks
- NATO urges allies to urgently supply air defense systems to Ukraine
- Russia launches nearly 100 drones and a ballistic missile overnight
- Ukraine allocates $60 million for emergency generators
- Peace settlement documents may be finalized between U.S. and Ukraine
- Russian drone strikes continue to damage infrastructure and kill civilians
- Zelenskyy remains in Kyiv to focus on restoring power instead of traveling to Davos
Deep Look
Trump and Zelenskyy to Meet as Ukraine Struggles Through Harsh Winter and Renewed Russian Strikes
President Donald Trump is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this Thursday amid intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and a brutal winter that has left much of Kyiv without heat or power. With temperatures plunging to –20°C (–4°F), Ukraine is facing one of its coldest winters in years—compounded by a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The upcoming meeting, announced by Trump during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, comes after months of diplomatic efforts by the United States to broker a resolution to the nearly four-year-old war. Though the Trump administration has pushed various deadlines for peace negotiations, tangible results have yet to emerge.
“I want to stop it,” Trump said in Davos on Wednesday. “It’s a horrible war.”
Ukraine Reels from Ongoing Power Crisis
President Zelenskyy said Wednesday that around 4,000 buildings in the capital remain without heat and that roughly 60% of Kyiv has no access to electricity following days of targeted Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid. The continued attacks have plunged the capital into darkness and disrupted essential services as the nation endures bitter cold.
Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers announced the allocation of 2.56 billion hryvnias (nearly $60 million) from its emergency reserve fund to purchase generators. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said the funds would be used to restore some basic services as quickly as possible.
Zelenskyy had previously stated that Ukrainian officials were preparing documents to finalize a proposed peace framework with U.S. support, including postwar security guarantees and economic recovery plans. While he initially indicated a signing could occur in Davos, he later confirmed he would remain in Ukraine to focus on restoring critical infrastructure.
Russian Attacks Intensify Across Multiple Regions
On the battlefield, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 97 drones and one ballistic missile overnight. The attacks caused casualties and widespread damage, especially in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where two elderly civilians—a 77-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman—were killed.
Far from the front lines, Russian air defenses claimed to have intercepted 75 Ukrainian drones. However, one Ukrainian drone reportedly struck a residential building in Adygea, more than 200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, injuring 11 people, including two children.
Several Russian airports, including those in Sochi, Krasnodar, Saratov, and Gelendzhik, temporarily suspended operations overnight due to drone threats.
NATO Calls for Urgent Support
As Ukraine continues to fend off relentless aerial assaults, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte issued a stark warning and an urgent plea to alliance members during a virtual address from Brussels. He called on NATO military leaders to persuade their governments to deliver more air defense systems to Ukraine.
“Please use your influence to help your political masters to do even more,” Rutte said. “Look deep into your stockpiles to see what more you can give to Ukraine, particularly air defense interceptors. The time really is now.”
The plea reflects mounting concern that Ukraine’s current defense capabilities are not sufficient to counter Russia’s increasingly aggressive drone and missile campaigns.
U.S. Efforts at Diplomacy Continue
While Trump is preparing to meet Zelenskyy, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters that he would continue discussions with both Ukrainian and Russian officials. Witkoff said he plans to explore avenues for a ceasefire and a broader peace agreement.
“We need a peace,” Witkoff told the Associated Press. “The human toll and economic damage can’t go on forever.”
‘Still, ongoing tensions over unrelated issues, such as Trump’s controversial push to acquire Greenland, have overshadowed some of the discussions at Davos. Western leaders remain divided over priorities and timelines, making the path to peace in Ukraine uncertain.
What Comes Next
While the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting offers a potential diplomatic breakthrough, expectations remain cautious. Previous rounds of negotiations have faltered, and Ukrainian officials have stressed that any peace deal must include ironclad security guarantees to prevent future aggression.
At the same time, civilians in Ukraine continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. With winter deepening and infrastructure failing, the humanitarian situation is likely to worsen unless aid and defense support are accelerated.
As Davos continues, attention will shift to whether this week’s talks yield any concrete progress—or if Ukraine remains trapped in a cycle of violence, vulnerability, and diplomatic uncertainty.
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