Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump held a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Zelenskyy stated that he hoped to end the war before winter with the help of the US President. Trump, for his part, linked Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries to the rise in diesel prices and said he expected an agreement to be reached between Ukraine and Russia.
• Zelenskyy and Trump met on 22 September in New York.
• Zelenskyy expressed the hope that the war would be over by winter.
• Trump stated that the strikes against Russia had affected diesel prices and that he wished to discuss this with Zelenskyy.
• The US President believes that Ukraine and Russia will eventually reach an agreement.
• After a brief public session, the talks continued behind closed doors.
Zelenskyy: I hope to end the war before winter
The meeting between the presidents took place on 22 September during their visit Zelensky in New York to take part in the UN General Assembly.
Before the closed-door talks began, the leaders spoke to journalists for a few minutes.
Zelenskyy said he is hoping for a diplomatic solution within the coming months.
«I hope we can bring this war to an end before winter, and that Trump will help us do so,» said the President of Ukraine.
Kyiv and Washington agreed on this meeting during a telephone conversation on 20 September. At the time, Zelenskyy said that the parties had discussed possible de-escalation measures, energy and food security, and the protection of people.
In the run-up to the talks, Zelenskyy also discussed with US senators the tightening of sanctions against Russia and Ukraine’s need for ballistic missile interception capabilities. The President emphasised that the systems Patriot remain of critical importance to Ukraine’s air defence at present.
Trump has spoken of strikes against Russian oil refineries
Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries have become a separate issue.
Trump said:
«The strikes against Russia have affected diesel prices — this is a serious problem for the Russian Federation. We will be discussing this.».
Topic. diesel fuel This issue had already been raised during discussions between the presidents. The day before, Axios reported, citing a source, that Trump had asked Zelenskyy during a telephone conversation to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, linking them to shortages and rising global diesel prices.
The global diesel fuel market is indeed experiencing an acute shortage. Reuters has reported record prices and historically low stocks in a number of regions. At the same time, analysts cite not only the reduction in Russian refining following Ukrainian strikes, but also disruptions in the Middle East and other problems in global supply chains as contributing factors.
Therefore, the claim that Ukrainian strikes have made a specific contribution to the global rise in diesel prices remains Trump’s assessment against the backdrop of a wider global fuel crisis.
Trump on Ukraine’s territories: «I think they’ll reach an agreement»
During his press conference, Trump was also asked about the prospects of Ukraine regaining its occupied territories. A journalist reminded the US President of his previous statement regarding the possibility of Ukraine regaining all its territory.
Reporter: «Last year, you said that Ukraine could regain all its territory. Is that possible now?»
Trump did not give a direct answer regarding the borders under the future settlement.
Trump: «I think they will reach an agreement. I do not wish to disclose the details of this agreement.».
The territorial issue remains one of the most difficult issues in the potential negotiations. Zelenskyy has previously emphasised that such decisions can only be discussed at the leadership level, and that any future agreement must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump did not disclose any details of a possible compromise during the public part of the current meeting.
Trump praised the Ukrainian military and leadership
The US President spoke positively, in particular, about Ukraine’s ability to wage war.
«There’s no doubt that Ukrainians are very good fighters. They can be proud of themselves — they are very, very capable people, with very capable leadership,» said Trump.
The key topics of the talks were to include possible de-escalation measures, the protection of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and Ukraine’s need for additional Patriot systems.
On the same day, Zelenskyy held talks with the President of France Emmanuel Macron a winter aid package and the opportunity to bolster Ukraine’s air defence capabilities with additional SAMP/T systems and missiles.
The talks continued away from the cameras
The public part of the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump lasted about seven minutes. After brief statements and answers to questions from journalists, the presidents continued their conversation behind closed doors, without cameras. The full results of this stage of the talks are expected following official announcements from the Ukrainian and American sides.
The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of a new attempt by Washington to revitalise the negotiation process. In early September, Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks in Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy subsequently stated that the resumption of talks is important, but that any future agreement must provide not only for an end to the war, but also for long-term security guarantees and Ukraine’s economic recovery.
