Zelensky, Trump Agree to Meet in New York as Ukraine-US Peace Efforts Gain ‘Momentum’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to hold a meeting in New York, according to Zelensky. Following a phone call on September 20, Zelensky reported that they made significant progress during their discussion and that this meeting could potentially bring about substantial changes. Zelensky expressed gratitude to Trump for sending U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv, stating that their visit facilitated crucial conversations and allowed U.S. representatives to witness the situation in Ukraine firsthand.

Both parties emphasized the importance of advancing the peace process, focusing on areas such as de-escalation measures, energy security, food security, and human life protection. Zelensky also commended Trump for signing the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill into law. The anticipated meeting is expected to occur on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Zelensky had suggested holding a new round of U.S.-backed talks in late September.

This development follows U.S. efforts to revive peace negotiations, with envoys traveling from Moscow to Kyiv and Kyiv meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 5 and Zelensky on September 6. Zelensky described his conversations with the U.S. envoys as "very substantial" and indicated that Kyiv is prepared to engage in trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia.

National security advisers from the UK, France, and Germany participated in the Kyiv discussions. Additionally, the U.S. has reportedly been considering a winter de-escalation between Russia and Ukraine alongside renewed peace negotiations, with potential measures including energy infrastructure, grain supplies, and oil and gas exports.