Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump on Wednesday as Russia and Ukraine continued trading strikes in the lead-up to the high-profile meeting. The talks centered on a potential path toward ending the nearly three-year conflict, with Zelenskyy presenting a proposal for a ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy's energy ceasefire proposal would halt attacks on power grids and fuel facilities on both sides, a measure Ukrainian officials say could provide relief to civilian populations facing recurring blackouts. The proposal stops short of a full ceasefire but represents a potential incremental step toward broader negotiations.

Trump expressed confidence during and after the meeting that Russia and Ukraine would ultimately reach a deal, echoing statements he has made repeatedly since returning to prominence as a political figure. He did not outline specific terms but suggested the United States could play a facilitating role in any future agreement.

The backdrop of continued strikes ahead of the meeting underscored the fragility of any diplomatic momentum. Reports confirmed that Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged aerial and missile attacks in the hours before Zelenskyy and Trump sat down, signaling that battlefield activity has not paused despite ongoing diplomatic outreach.

The meeting marks one of the more prominent direct contacts between Zelenskyy and Trump in recent months, and analysts are watching closely to see whether any concrete commitments emerge from either side regarding next steps in the peace process.