Zelenskyy hopes to end the war before winter
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he hopes to end the full-scale war before winter with the help of U.S. President Donald Trump. He made these remarks during a meeting with the American leader in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Trump, for his part, said that both Ukraine and Russia want the war to end, adding, “The time has come.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his hope to end the full-scale war before winter. According to him, he is counting on the assistance of U.S. President Donald Trump in this process. Zelenskyy made these remarks during a meeting with Trump in New York. The leaders met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Zelenskyy named his desired timeline for ending the war
During his conversation with Trump, the Ukrainian president stated explicitly that he would like to end the war before the start of winter. “I hope we can end this war before winter, and Trump will help with that,” Zelenskyy said.
Thus, the Ukrainian president links the possibility of a faster end to the war, in particular, to further actions by the U.S. side. At the same time, Zelenskyy’s statement itself does not mean that an agreement to end the war has already been reached or that hostilities are guaranteed to cease before winter. It refers specifically to his expectations and his preferred scenario for how events will unfold.
Trump’s Response
For his part, Donald Trump stated that both Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin want the war to end. “The time has come,” the U.S. president emphasized.
Trump did not provide any specific details regarding a possible plan to end the war during this statement. Nor did he specify a particular date when hostilities might cease.
Ukraine and the U.S. Continue Diplomatic Contacts
The meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump took place against the backdrop of intensified diplomatic contacts between Ukraine and the U.S. The day before, the Ukrainian president stated that the negotiation process to end the war remains one of the main areas of focus. In early September, Trump’s special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Kyiv. During their meetings, they discussed possible steps toward de-escalation, security guarantees, and the future peace process.
On September 20, Zelenskyy and Trump also agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting in New York. The Ukrainian president stated at the time that the two sides had discussed a number of issues during their conversation and that diplomatic momentum remains. Prior to his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy also discussed with U.S. senators the tightening of sanctions against Russia, Ukraine’s need for missile defense, and preparations for winter. According to him, Ukraine is counting on continued U.S. support in the areas of air and missile defense.
So far, no specific agreements on a definitive end to the war have been announced following the meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump. The Ukrainian side continues to insist on a diplomatic settlement, and further negotiations will determine whether the parties can reach practical agreements on ceasing hostilities. This was reported during the live broadcast of the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump began their meeting at 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.
