CaliToday (28/12/2025): In a strategic move to strengthen Kyiv's hand before the most consequential diplomatic meeting of the year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a massive economic aid package with Canada. The deal, finalized in Nova Scotia, comes just hours before Zelensky flies to Florida for a decisive summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
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| Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney & Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a massive economic aid package. |
A Financial Lifeline from Halifax
During a whirlwind visit to Halifax, Zelensky met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and participated in a joint call with European leaders. The outcome was a pledge of approximately $2.5 billion CAD in economic assistance.
Prime Minister Carney stated that this funding is designed to pave the way for additional support from the IMF, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. For Zelensky, this financial armor is essential as he enters what analysts are calling the "most sensitive phase" of peace negotiations in months.
The Mar-a-Lago Summit
The focus now shifts to Sunday’s face-to-face meeting at Mar-a-Lago—the first direct encounter between Zelensky and President Trump since October. The summit is expected to finalize the details of Trump’s controversial 20-point peace plan, which has been the subject of intense, behind-the-scenes adjustments by Ukrainian, Russian, and American envoys for weeks.
The Referendum Gamble and "Rigging" Fears
Speaking to reporters, Zelensky expressed cautious optimism, signaling a willingness to put the peace plan to a national referendum but with a strict condition: Russia must adhere to a verifiable 60-day ceasefire.
However, the path to peace is already clouded by suspicion. On Saturday, Zelensky cited intelligence suggesting that Vladimir Putin is plotting to manipulate the potential referendum. "Moscow may try to orchestrate votes for Ukrainians living in Russia or occupied territories to delegitimize the process," Zelensky warned. He remained defiant, asserting that Russia "has no standing" to judge the legitimacy of Ukraine's government.
Shadows of Past Broken Truces
Zelensky’s skepticism is rooted in blood. Previous attempts at de-escalation, including an Easter ceasefire earlier this year, collapsed quickly when Russian drones bombed civilian residential buildings. Despite these scars, the Ukrainian leader is banking on President Trump’s mediation leverage to secure an end to the war "as soon as possible," provided the terms do not compromise Ukraine's sovereignty.
CaliToday.Net