Ukraine War · updated 2h ago · 3 min read
Zelensky Agrees To Meet Trump In New York During UN General Assembly Peace Push
Zelensky said he agreed to meet Trump in New York on UNGA sidelines. Talks aim to advance Ukraine peace efforts and address security concerns.
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10 of 11 outlets skipped it: trump asked Zelensky to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.
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Zelensky to Meet Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he agreed to meet US President Donald Trump in New York after the two leaders held a phone conversation focused on efforts to advance the peace process and address key security concerns amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Zelensky said, "I just spoke with President Trump. An important conversation, and we got through a lot. We agreed to meet in New York, and this meeting could change a lot. There is diplomatic momentum," and he said the meeting is expected during the upcoming UN General Assembly session.
Zelensky said the talks could help advance efforts to resolve the more than four-year-old war with Russia, and he described the peace process as Kyiv's "number one priority."
Zelensky also thanked Trump for the recent visit to Kyiv by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying they reviewed key details and witnessed conditions in Ukraine firsthand.
Zelensky said, "There are ideas for de-escalation steps and for addressing fundamental security issues – energy security, food security, and the protection of human life," and he added, "We are working together with the American team and are ready to take really serious steps."
Sanctions and Negotiation Focus
Zelensky tied the diplomacy to US sanctions, thanking Trump for signing into law the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which the White House said Trump signed on September 18.
Zelensky said, "When Lindsey Graham was here in Ukraine, he would always talk about how important it was not to ease pressure on Russia, to strengthen sanctions and seek a path to peace," and he added, "The best way to honour Lindsey’s memory will be to implement the provisions of this law fully and swiftly."
Zelensky said the legislation targets Russia's energy and defence sectors, officials, financial institutions and its so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers used to circumvent sanctions, and it gives the US administration authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major purchasers of Russian oil and gas under specified conditions.
Axios reported through Rustem Umerov that he was coordinating with White House officials on the meeting, and Umerov told Axios that he was working with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on a daily basis over the last year.
Umerov said, "Nevertheless, we need to stay focused. Steve has done a great job with us. We do not waste time and stay focused on finding solutions," as he described the number of stumbling blocks reducing from dozens to essentially one or two key issues.
What Comes Next
Zelensky’s announcement came as fighting intensified and as Ukraine and Russia continued long-range drone and missile attacks, with the meeting framed as part of a push to reduce hostilities and restart peace negotiations. Axios reported that the White House was exploring proposals for reciprocal de-escalation measures between Kyiv and Moscow ahead of the winter months, including discussions on energy infrastructure, food security and broader security guarantees. Zelensky said Ukraine is ready "to take really serious steps" to reach a deescalation deal with Russia, and he said there are proposals to adopt de-escalation measures and address fundamental security issues.
The meeting also arrived amid a dispute over Ukrainian strikes, because a source familiar with the call said Trump repeatedly asked Zelensky to stop attacking Russian oil refineries, while Rustem Umerov told Axios the story was false. Umerov said the trend was positive and that the US was super focused on stopping the war, even as the same source described hostilities as having escalated in recent days with more long-range attacks.