Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed this Sunday that he will meet with Donald Trump in New York, following a phone conversation in which both leaders agreed to the meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, which begins this Monday.
"I just spoke with President Trump. It was an important conversation, and we discussed many things. We agreed to meet in New York, and this meeting could change many things. There is a diplomatic momentum," Zelenski wrote on the social media platform X, where he also emphasized that this momentum aims to try to put an end to the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine.
The announcement comes at a moment of intense simultaneous diplomatic and military activity. Just hours earlier, Ukraine executed one of its largest drone and missile attacks against Moscow, which left three dead and around twenty injured and targeted oil sector facilities and logistics centers in the region of the Russian capital.
Despite the escalation, Zelensky insisted that "the path to peace is our number one priority" and pointed out that there are "proposals to adopt de-escalation measures and to address fundamental issues of energy, food, and humanitarian security." "We are ready to take significant steps," he added.
The call between both leaders took place after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladímir Putin, following the visit that American emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made first to Moscow and then to Kiev, marking their first trip to the Ukrainian capital since mediating in the conflict. Zelenski specifically thanked Trump for this diplomatic gesture.
The legislative context also reflects the moment: last Friday, Trump signed the law approved by Congress that expands sanctions against Russia and Iran and allows him to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that purchase Russian energy, a measure that Zelensky publicly appreciated.
In parallel, Washington approved a potential military sale to Ukraine for $2.68 billion aimed at strengthening its air defense, an operation that is still subject to Congressional review.
The Zelenski-Trump meeting will take place with most European leaders also present in New York, where a UN Security Council dedicated to the war in Ukraine is scheduled. Putin, on the other hand, will not attend the summit. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned that the conflict escalates daily toward a more serious situation.
Trump is scheduled to deliver his speech at the General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23, a day that could set the tone for negotiations in the following days.
Related videos:
Filed under: