Russian Strikes Kill 1 in Donetsk as Trump, Zelenskyy Hold Florida Peace Talks

Russian forces conducted seven shelling attacks in Ukraine's Donetsk region overnight, killing one civilian and injuring five while damaging dozens of homes. The assault occurred as U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks at Mar-a-Lago to discuss a proposed 20-point peace framework. Trump stated he had a "good and very productive" prior call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and believes a peace agreement is getting "very close." Despite his reputation for deadlines, Trump explicitly stated he has no deadline for ending the war, focusing solely on achieving a resolution.

Key Points: Ukraine Attack Amid Trump-Zelenskyy Peace Talks

  • Overnight shelling hits Donetsk
  • Trump-Zelenskyy discuss peace plan
  • Trump spoke with Putin before meeting
  • No deadline set for peace deal
3 min read

Overnight Russian strikes in Donetsk region kill 1, injure 5 amid Trump-Zelenskyy talks in Florida

Russian shelling kills 1, injures 5 in Donetsk as Trump meets Zelenskyy in Florida to discuss a 20-point peace plan for Ukraine.

"I don't have deadlines. You know what my deadline is: getting the war ended. - Donald Trump"

Kyiv, December 29

Ukrainian authorities on Monday said Russia had continued its overnight shelling on the Kyiv-controlled Donetsk region, which hit multiple districts across eastern Ukraine, amid peace talks between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida in order to end the war in Europe.

According to a statement shared on Telegram by the Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration and Regional Military Administration, Russian forces carried out seven shelling attacks on settlements in the Donetsk region overnight, killing one and injuring five.

In the Pokrovsk district, five residential houses were destroyed in the Shakhivska community, including three homes in Kucherev Yar and two in Gruzky.

In the Kramatorsk district, one person was injured in Lyman. In the Starodubivka community of Mykolaiv, one house was destroyed, and nine others were damaged. In Sloviansk, one civilian was killed, and four others were injured after strikes completely destroyed two private homes, while another 42 houses and four vehicles sustained damage.

In the Bakhmut district, at least two houses in Riznykivka, Siversk community, were damaged.

"Pokrovsky district. In the Shakhivska community, 5 houses were destroyed: 3 in Kucherev Yar and 2 in Gruzky. Kramatorsk district. A person was injured in Lyman. In Starodubivka, Mykolaiv community, 1 house was destroyed and 9 were damaged. In Sloviansk, 1 person was killed and 4 were injured; 2 private houses were completely destroyed, another 42 houses and 4 cars were damaged. Bakhmut district. In Riznykyvka, Siverskaya community, at least 2 houses were damaged," the statement read.

The regional administration said that 108 civilians were evacuated from frontline areas, including 18 children, amid the ongoing hostilities.

The latest attacks come as international attention remains focused on diplomatic efforts related to the conflict, as discussions took place with Zelenskyy and Trump at the US President's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Sunday (local time).

The two leaders discussed the proposed 20-point peace framework, security guarantees, and potential territorial compromises to end the conflict.

Prior to meeting with the Ukrainian President, Trump also had a long telephonic conversation with his Russian counterpart, noting that it was "good and very productive".

"I just had a good and very productive telephone call with President Putin of Russia prior to my meeting, at 1:00 P.M. today, with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. The Kremlin also described the call positively.

Meanwhile, during his meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump, known for setting deadlines on most issues, said he has no deadline for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal this time as he welcomed the Ukrainian President.

Speaking to reporters outside the resort, when asked whether he had set any deadline for ending the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump made it clear that he has no deadline for a peace deal this time.

"I don't have deadlines. You know what my deadline is: getting the war ended," Trump said.

He also stated that a peace agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war is also getting "very close", noting that significant progress had been made as discussions continue.

"We had a terrific meeting. We discussed a lot of things. As you know, I had an excellent phone call with President Putin. It lasted for over two hours. We discussed a lot of points. I do think we're getting a lot closer, maybe very close. The President and I just spoke to the European leaders... We have made a lot of progress on ending that war, which is probably the deadliest war since World War II..." Trump said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The timing is telling. Strikes continue even during high-profile peace talks. It feels like a show of force. India has always advocated for dialogue and diplomacy, and we hope all parties genuinely commit to it. The world cannot afford another prolonged conflict.
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Arjun K
"No deadline" from Trump is concerning. For the people in Ukraine, every day without a deadline means more shelling, more deaths. Diplomacy is good, but it needs urgency. The focus should be on the 108 evacuated, including 18 children. That's the real story.
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Priyanka N
As an Indian, watching this from afar, it's a stark reminder of how precious peace is. We've seen conflict on our borders. No political deal is worth the destruction of ordinary people's lives. Hope the talks yield a lasting solution soon.
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Vikram M
The article mentions a 20-point peace framework. I wish media would focus more on the details of such plans rather than just the optics of meetings at Mar-a-Lago. What are the potential territorial compromises? The devil is in the details.
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Karthik V
Respectfully, while we all want peace, the sequence of calls is interesting. A "very productive" call with Putin first, then meeting Zelenskyy. The power dynamics are clear. Ukraine needs strong, unambiguous support, not ambiguity that might encourage more strikes.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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