Zelenskyy suggests Trump fly to Ukraine to help 'end the war'
LONDON -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump should visit Ukraine, amid the latest U.S.-led push for a peace deal to end Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
"He talks about advocating a plan to end the war," Zelenskyy said of Trump, answering questions in a group WhatsApp chat with reporters.
"I told him that we would be glad to see him. It is very useful for Ukraine. If U.S. President Trump flies to Ukraine, and it is desirable that he flies by plane not to Poland, but to Ukraine, then this will indicate that we definitely have the opportunity to count on a ceasefire," Zelenskyy said.
Earlier this week, Trump told reporters that the negotiating teams are "getting a lot closer, maybe very close" to achieving a peace deal to end Moscow's invasion, which has been ongoing since February 2022.
Zelenskyy traveled to Florida to meet with Trump on Sunday and discuss a 20-point plan that he described as a possible foundation for the end of the war. Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before and after meeting Zelenskyy, the White House said.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine is discussing the possibility of an American troop presence as part of a settlement, and as part of the post-war security guarantees Kyiv says it needs to prevent a repeat Russian attack.
"These are U.S. troops and that is why it is America that makes such decisions," Zelenskyy said. "Of course, we are discussing this with President Trump and with representatives of the 'Coalition of the Willing.'"
"We would like this. This would be a strong position in security guarantees," Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy also denied Russian reports of a rift between the U.S. and Ukraine. On Monday, Moscow accused Kyiv -- without providing any supporting evidence -- of launching a drone attack on Putin's residence in the Novgorod region.
After speaking with Putin by phone about the alleged attack, Trump said he was "very angry," though also acknowledged that it may not have happened.
"Despite all the media accusations of the Russians about the breakdown of our talks with the Americans, we are working every day," Zelenskyy told reporters.
The Ukrainian president said there had been "several calls" on Tuesday between Rustem Umerov -- the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council and a key negotiator -- and American representatives, among them presidential envoy Steve Witkoff. "We are discussing our next steps," Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy also posted to social media on Tuesday previewing a gathering of national security advisers of the mostly European "Coalition of the Willing" nations in Ukraine on Jan. 3, which is expected to be followed by a meeting of national leaders in France on Jan. 6.
Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, made in February 2023 a surprise trip to Kyiv, where he met with Zelenskyy prior to the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Biden flew into Poland and undertook a 10-hour train journey to get to the Ukrainian capital, senior administration officials said at the time.
Both Russia and Ukraine continued their exchange of long-range drone strikes overnight.
Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 127 drones into the country overnight into Wednesday morning, of which 101 were shot down or suppressed. Twenty drones impacted across 11 locations, the air force said.
The southern port city of Odesa was among the targets of the latest overnight barrage, officials said.
Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said in a post to Telegram that at least six people were injured by Russian drone strikes, among them three children. One adult was hospitalized and is in a critical condition, Kiper said.
"In total, four multi-apartment residential buildings, at least 14 cars and private garages were damaged," Kiper said.
"These attacks are another indication of the terrorist tactics of the enemy, who deliberately attacks the civilian infrastructure of peaceful cities in the Odesa region, threatening the lives and health of people," the governor added.
Kiper also reported at least two fresh strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the Odesa region. "Overall, during December, 10 substations in Odessa and the region were damaged as a result of enemy shelling," he wrote. "Since the beginning of the year, Russia has attacked 25 energy facilities in the region."
"The damage is significant and the repair work will take time," Kiper said.
Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down 86 Ukrainian drones overnight into Wednesday morning, of which 56 were reportedly downed over the Black Sea.
Rosaviatsiya -- Russia's federal air transport agency -- reported temporary flight restrictions at airports in the southern Russian cities of Gelenjik and Krasnodar, as well as in Ivanovo and Yaroslavl which both sit northeast of Moscow.
ABC News' Natalya Kushnir and Othon Leyva contributed to this report.
