Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that both Ukraine and the United States want to see the war brought to a close before winter sets in, following a meeting with President Donald Trump on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a statement posted online, Zelensky said the two leaders discussed “de-escalation measures that could open the way to diplomacy,” adding that “both the United States and Ukraine want to see this absurd war waged by Russia come to an end before winter.”
Talks on an Energy Moratorium
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, the Ukrainian leader said he had told Trump of his willingness to halt strikes on Russian energy sites, provided Moscow reciprocates by ending its own large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure.
“We spoke about an energy moratorium,” Zelensky said, describing the proposal as a potential first step toward reducing the intensity of the conflict as colder months approach.
Push for Patriot Production in Ukraine
Zelensky also said he was grateful that the two countries’ teams are continuing work on launching production of Patriot interceptor missiles on Ukrainian soil.
He has warned for weeks that Kyiv urgently needs the U.S.-made Patriot systems and interceptors, which are capable of countering fast-moving ballistic missiles that fly on steep trajectories.
“This is what will help protect lives, if Russia refuses negotiations and continues to bet on missile terror against our people this winter and beyond,” Zelensky said.
Diplomatic Momentum at the UN
The meeting between the two leaders came as world leaders gathered for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where the war in Ukraine and broader global security concerns dominated the agenda.
Zelensky’s remarks signal a renewed diplomatic push to wind down the conflict before the winter months, when sustained strikes on energy infrastructure have in previous years left millions of Ukrainians facing prolonged power outages and heating shortages.
