Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Meet with U.S. President Trump in Florida

What Happened?

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago on Sunday to discuss ways of bringing the war between Russia and Ukraine to an end. Ahead of the meeting with President Trump, Mr. Zelenskyy posted on social media that Ukraine was busy pursuing more peace talks, adding that ‘a lot can be decided before the New Year.’

Two important topics expected to be discussed on Sunday are the fate of the Donbass region and of the Russian-controlled nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia.

Why it Matters

Talks between the U.S. and Ukraine have become a part of the overall conflict itself. As evidence of that, on Sunday, Russian forces ramped up drone and missile strikes on Ukraine ahead of the meeting in Mar-a-Lago between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy. The fate of the Donbass region is likely the most important topic to be broached by the meeting, since that is where the war between Russia and Ukraine began.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

If you spend a good amount on Amazon, this card could easily be worth $100s in cash back every year. And — even better — you could get approved extremely fast. If approved, you’ll receive an insanely valuable welcome bonus deposited straight into your Amazon account, ready to use immediately.

You also don’t have to jump through any hoops to get this bonus. No extra work or special spending requirements. Get approved, and it’s yours.

This might be one of the most powerful cash back cards available, especially considering how much most people spend on Amazon each month. It gives you the chance to earn cash back on the purchases you’re already making, turning your routine shopping into something that actually pays you back.

If you shop at Amazon or Whole Foods, this card could help you earn meaningful cash back on every purchase you make. But this offer won’t last forever — and if you’re an Amazon Prime member, this card is as close to a no-brainer as it gets.

Amazon Prime members: See what you could get, no strings attached

Last week, Mr. Zelenskyy signaled that Ukraine was open to the establishment of a demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine that would likely include the Donbass region. Under such an arrangement, Ukraine would withdraw its military forces from that region, but so would Russia. Critically, Russia has yet to offer any support for the idea of a demilitarized zone, leaving the potential for such a plan in doubt. 

The Trump Administration has alternatively signaled more and less support for Ukraine at various times, depending on how it perceives events on the ground to be going. Right now, the war is not going especially well for Ukraine, with Russia having made several limited advances on the ground in the eastern parts of Ukraine. Given the recent though limited progress by Russia, if the past pattern holds true, President Trump seems more likely to try to pressure Ukraine into making concessions to end the war. 

Europe has continued to pledge support for Ukraine because it sees the conflict very differently from the Trump Administration. European countries, especially Poland and the Baltics, who are nearer to Russia, see the war in Ukraine not as a distant conflict but as an immediate threat to their own national security. Poland and Germany have embarked on endeavors to vastly increase the size and power of their own armed forces in preparation for a possible future conflict with Russia. 

How it Affects You

While a breakthrough that will bring the war to a swift end on Sunday is unlikely, President Trump could pressure Ukraine into accepting more concessions. In escalating attacks on Ukraine ahead of the meeting, Russia is sending a message that it can continue to wage war for as long as it takes to accomplish Russia’s objectives.