Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a strategic stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Friday, December 27, 2025, for a high-level meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The urgent consultation is a final coordination effort before Zelenskyy travels to pivotal peace talks with U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for Sunday.
Final Coordination Before U.S. Summit
The prime minister's office confirmed the in-person meeting, which follows a detailed phone conversation between the two leaders on Boxing Day. According to a readout from Carney's office, their December 26 call focused on the upcoming negotiations, with the Canadian leader commending Zelenskyy's persistent peace efforts and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
The Halifax agenda is packed. Zelenskyy told reporters aboard his plane that he and Prime Minister Carney will also hold a joint video conference with key European leaders. The purpose, as reported by international news agencies, is to thoroughly review all pertinent issues, share updates, and align on the details of the U.S.-backed peace plan aimed at ending Russia's invasion, which is nearing its four-year mark.
Security Guarantees and Renewed Russian Strikes
A central theme of the discussions is Ukraine's pressing need for legally binding security guarantees from its allied nations. Zelenskyy has consistently stressed that such commitments are essential to bringing a definitive end to the hostilities.
The diplomatic push in North America comes against a grim backdrop of renewed violence. Overnight on Saturday, Russia launched a massive barrage against Ukrainian infrastructure. Reports from Bloomberg and AFP detail an attack involving more than 500 drones and 40 missiles, including advanced hypersonic weapons.
The strikes, which targeted energy infrastructure and defence industry facilities according to Russia's defence ministry, resulted in one confirmed death, at least 30 injuries, and left hundreds of thousands of citizens without power.
Canada's Stance and the Path Forward
In a post on the social media platform X following their Boxing Day call, Prime Minister Carney underscored Canada's unwavering position. "As Ukrainians face another winter of Russian aggression, I reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to Ukraine, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia to negotiate," Carney wrote.
This meeting in Halifax serves as a critical moment for Western allies to solidify their support and strategy. With the peace talks with President Trump imminent, the outcome of Zelenskyy's discussions in Canada could significantly influence the framework and expectations for the negotiations intended to chart a course toward a lasting peace in Eastern Europe.
