On December 27, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff to discuss military strategies, particularly in light of recent Russian drone assaults. These discussions were prompted by intelligence reports indicating that Russian forces are attempting to bypass Ukrainian air defenses by launching attacks from Belarusian territory. Zelensky expressed concern over Belarus's increasing alignment with Russian military objectives, highlighting the potential risks to Belarus's sovereignty and the humanitarian implications of deploying drone strike equipment in residential areas.

During the meeting, Zelensky acknowledged criticism from military units regarding the allocation of drone interceptors and instructed the First Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the command of Unmanned Systems Forces to enhance the distribution system to ensure adequate supplies for military units.

In a related development, Russia executed a significant military assault on Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine, deploying approximately 500 drones and 40 missiles. This attack, which resulted in power outages and heating disruptions, was characterized by Zelensky as a direct challenge to ongoing peace negotiations facilitated by the United States. The air raid alert for Kyiv lasted nearly ten hours, leading to two fatalities and at least 46 injuries, including two children.

The strikes targeted energy infrastructure, prompting emergency power cuts affecting around 600,000 households in Kyiv and surrounding areas. Airports in Rzeszow and Lublin, Poland, were temporarily closed due to the attacks but were later reopened.

Zelensky was en route to a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida, where discussions were expected to focus on security guarantees and territorial control following the conflict. The future of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and the eastern region of Donetsk remain contentious issues in the negotiations. Zelensky indicated that a draft peace document, largely supported by the U.S., was nearing completion but stressed the need for robust security guarantees to prevent further Russian aggression.

Trump asserted that the U.S. would play a crucial role in the negotiations, with any agreements requiring his approval. The potential establishment of a free economic zone in Donetsk, contingent on Ukrainian troop withdrawals, was also mentioned. Zelensky expressed a willingness to hold a referendum on the proposed plan, contingent upon a ceasefire, although he noted that such a process was unfeasible while hostilities continued. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov acknowledged discrepancies between Ukraine's proposed plan and previous discussions with the U.S. but expressed hope for progress towards a resolution.