The air in Kyiv is freezing. Literally. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the temperature has plummeted to minus 18 degrees Celsius. While most people are hunkered down trying to keep their radiators from packing up, the diplomatic gears are turning at a speed we haven't seen in years. If you’ve been following the news about meeting with zelensky today, you’ve probably seen the headlines about peace deals and high-level delegations.
But headlines are kinda hollow. They don’t tell you about the tension in the room or the fact that Ukraine is currently operating under a self-declared energy emergency.
Honestly, the "meeting" today isn't just one sit-down in a gilded office. It’s a massive, multi-continent push. While President Volodymyr Zelensky remains the center of gravity in Kyiv, his most trusted inner circle—the guys who actually hammer out the fine print—just landed in Miami.
The Miami Connection: Why Florida?
It sounds weird, right? You’d think they’d be in D.C. or Brussels. But the Ukrainian delegation, led by the newly minted Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov, is in Florida to meet with the Trump administration’s heavy hitters. We’re talking about Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
This is where the rubber meets the road. They aren't just grabbing coffee. They are looking at two specific, massive documents that have been months in the making:
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- The Security Guarantee Agreement: This is the big one. It’s basically the "never again" clause. If Russia tries this again in five years, what does the U.S. actually do?
- The Prosperity Package: A $800 billion roadmap for post-war recovery.
Zelensky himself spent yesterday huddled with Czech President Petr Pavel. That meeting was less about "peace" and more about "not dying in the meantime." Pavel promised L-159 fighter jets. It’s a bit of a balancing act—Zelensky has to talk peace with the Americans while begging for more air defense from the Europeans because Russian missiles are currently "weaponizing winter" by hitting substations in Odesa and Kyiv.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Talks
There’s this idea floating around that Zelensky is just waiting for a phone call to end the war. It’s not that simple.
You've gotta realize that the internal politics in Ukraine have shifted. Just a few days ago, Zelensky pulled off a massive government reshuffle. He ousted Andriy Yermak and put Budanov—a former spy chief—in charge. Why? Because the "old way" of negotiating wasn't working with the current U.S. administration. Budanov is seen as a guy who can talk "security" and "tactics," which resonates more with the current vibe in Washington.
Also, the "peace" being discussed isn't a total surrender. The latest data shows that 72% of Ukrainians would approve a plan that freezes the front lines if—and it's a massive if—there are ironclad security guarantees.
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The Energy Crisis Is the Real Backdrop
You can't talk about meeting with zelensky today without talking about the lights going out. Just last night, Russia launched a massive drone and missile strike. Over 20 settlements around Kyiv lost power. When Zelensky meets with leaders, he’s not just a head of state; he’s a guy whose country is literally shivering.
He declared an energy emergency on January 14. That gives the government power to bypass red tape to fix the grid, but you can't "policy" your way out of a destroyed transformer when it’s zero degrees outside.
The "Davos" Deadline
Everything happening today is a warmup for next week. The World Economic Forum in Davos starts soon. Zelensky has been very vocal that he wants these documents signed there. Trump is expected to be there. The goal is to walk out of Switzerland with a signed framework that moves this from a "hot war" to a "diplomatic process."
Is it going to happen?
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The Russians haven't agreed to anything yet. In fact, their Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, just claimed they seized 300 square kilometers this month. They are still pushing in Zaporizhzhia.
Actionable Insights: What to Watch For
If you’re trying to make sense of the chaos, don’t get distracted by the photo ops. Keep your eyes on these three things:
- The "Miami Draft": If Budanov and Kushner come out with a joint statement in the next 24 hours, the Davos signing is likely a go.
- Air Defense Shipments: Watch if the Czech L-159s actually arrive. It’s a signal of whether Europe is hedging its bets against a potential U.S.-led ceasefire.
- The Grid Status: If Ukraine can keep the lights on for more than 48 hours straight, it gives Zelensky more leverage at the table. If the grid collapses, his bargaining power drops.
The war is entering its fourth year. The meetings happening today in Miami and the briefings in Kyiv are the most significant turn we've seen since 2022. It’s a pivot from "survival at all costs" to "defining the endgame."
Check the official Presidential Office Telegram (the "@V_Zelenskiy_official" one) for the evening address tonight. That’s usually where the real "feel" of the day's meetings gets revealed, once the cameras are off and the advisors have left the room.