Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax before embarking on a trip to the U.S. to meet with President Donald Trump to address the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Carney expressed optimism under Zelenskyy’s leadership for a sustainable peace agreement and pledged an additional $2.5 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine. The aid package includes $1.6 billion in loan guarantees to international financial institutions and support for increased lending by the International Monetary Fund. Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada followed a phone call with Carney where he updated the Prime Minister on diplomatic efforts with the U.S. to resolve the conflict.
Zelenskyy is scheduled to present a 20-point peace plan to Trump during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, focusing on security assurances for Ukraine and discussing economic agreements. The Ukrainian delegation plans to address territorial disputes, particularly concerning the Donbas region, where Russia demands Ukrainian concessions. Zelenskyy expressed readiness to establish a demilitarized zone in exchange for reciprocal actions from Russia and international monitoring.
Talks between the U.S. and Ukraine have made significant progress, with Zelenskyy indicating that a potential agreement is close to completion, despite lingering concerns over territorial issues. The Kremlin confirmed ongoing discussions with U.S. representatives following recent meetings between Russian and American envoys in Florida, signaling a commitment to further dialogue.