Zelenskyy and Trump Concluded Talks in New York
On September 22, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York. The talks took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and lasted about 40 minutes, after which the presidents concluded the meeting without publicly announcing any specific new agreements.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump held talks in New York. The meeting took place on September 22 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Initially, the presidents spoke in the presence of journalists. This part lasted about seven minutes, after which the talks continued behind closed doors. In total, the conversation lasted about 40 minutes.
The meeting was a key part of Zelenskyy’s visit to the U.S. The day before, the Ukrainian president said that during his talks with Trump, he planned to discuss steps to end the war, protect Ukraine’s energy sector, and strengthen air defense. U.S. support for Ukraine remained a separate issue.
What Trump Said
During the public portion of the meeting, Trump stated that he has a good relationship with Zelenskyy. The U.S. president also said that, together with the Ukrainian leader, he is seeking a way to end the war. Separately, Trump spoke positively about Ukrainians and the military.
According to him, Ukrainian soldiers are strong fighters and can be proud of their struggle. “They are really very good fighters. And they can be proud of themselves. They have very, very capable people and very capable leadership,” Trump said.
During the meeting, the U.S. president also spoke about Russia. According to him, it is in Moscow’s interest to end the war against Ukraine. “It is in Russia’s interest to end this war. There are two alternatives—one is very bad, the other will lead to greatness,” Trump stated. However, he did not explain in detail what exactly he meant by these two options.
Trump Mentioned Putin Again
Another topic of discussion was a possible meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested that they might meet in person again.
At the same time, the U.S. president did not express confidence that Putin would attend the G20 summit, scheduled to take place in Miami in December 2026. In other words, no specific agreement regarding a new meeting between Trump and Putin was announced during the talks with Zelenskyy.
Trump Does Not Expect a War Between Russia and Europe
The U.S. president also stated that he does not expect Russia to wage a direct war against the United Kingdom or other European countries. At the same time, Trump urged British leaders to be more cautious in their statements regarding Moscow. His remarks came amid a broader discussion about European security and Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Zelenskyy Wants to End the War Before Winter
For his part, Zelenskyy stated that he hopes to end the war before winter with the help of the U.S. president. The Ukrainian president links the possibility of ending the war not only to negotiations but also to continued support for Ukraine from its partners.
Before meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy discussed with U.S. senators the strengthening of sanctions against Russia and Ukraine’s need for ballistic missile defense systems. He specifically emphasized the importance of U.S. Patriot systems for protecting Ukrainian cities.
What Else the Presidents Might Have Discussed
In the run-up to the meeting, one of the topics mentioned was a possible reduction in the intensity of strikes on energy infrastructure. Reuters reported that Zelenskyy planned to discuss with Trump the possibility of agreements on energy, as well as Ukraine’s need for additional Patriot systems. This is particularly important for Ukraine as winter approaches. Russia continues to use missiles and drones to strike Ukrainian territory, particularly its energy infrastructure.
At the same time, following the meeting, the parties did not announce a new large-scale agreement or a specific plan to end the war. The talks between Zelenskyy and Trump marked another stage in diplomatic contacts between Ukraine and the United States. The day before, the presidents agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting in New York, and the Ukrainian side expressed its readiness to discuss concrete steps toward peace. For now, the main outcome of the meeting was the talks themselves and the discussion of next steps. Specific details of any potential agreements on ending the war have not been publicly announced.
Donald Trump was asked whether he still believes that Ukraine is capable of regaining all the territories occupied by Russia. The U.S. president did not directly answer this question but stated that he expects an agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump began their meeting at the UN headquarters in New York. The talks are taking place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly after the leaders agreed to meet during a phone call.
