Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on U.S. President Donald Trump to organize a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying world leaders must move "as quickly as possible" to end Russia's full-scale invasion.
Zelenskyy spoke with Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 22, 2026, in what his office described as a high-stakes bilateral meeting aimed at discussing ways to end the war, expand U.S. air-defense support for Kyiv and secure security guarantees.
Ukraine is ready to agree to an "energy ceasefire" on the condition that Russia does not attack its energy, electricity, heating infrastructure or water supplies, Zelenskyy said in a social-media post overnight summarizing remarks to reporters. He added that while Kyiv was prepared, he was "not sure Russia is ready as of today."
A winter package of U.S. Patriot missile systems and licenses to produce the weapons domestically were among Ukraine's priorities for the coming months, Zelenskyy said.
Trump has previously urged Ukraine to halt drone strikes against Russian oil refineries, arguing that disruptions from the wars in Ukraine and Iran are pushing U.S. diesel prices to record highs. In a Truth Social post on Sept. 22, Trump wrote that Russia had "unfortunately lost control" of its diesel oil industry because of the war.
Diplomatic talks have been stalled, with the U.S. shifting focus toward its confrontation with Iran, although U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Ukraine earlier in the month for the first direct negotiations with Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy also pressed Trump to involve Chinese President Xi Jinping in peace efforts. "I said to the President, very openly, that we think if he also engages President Xi — he has influence on Putin" — adding that ending the war requires sustained work around the clock.
Ukraine has continued stepping up strikes on Russian oil facilities and logistics infrastructure in recent months, insisting the sites are legitimate military targets. Russia's Defense Ministry has warned it is planning "massive strikes" on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, raising fears of another winter assault.
