A week of mixed results for Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, encountering both triumphs and setbacks. He continued to demand an end to Russia's war on Ukraine, but his request for US Patriot air defence systems fell through. Zelensky had been requesting Patriot licences since May, but US President Donald Trump failed to grant them.

The Ukrainian leader did meet Trump on side streets of the assembly, where the US president discussed the transfer of missile production licences. Trump claimed approval of a licence for the PAC-2 or PAC-3 missiles, though US officials have not confirmed. Even if the US grants Patriot licences to Ukraine, it won't assist the country's air defenses this winter, as it would take at least a year to produce the systems.

The meeting between Zelensky and Trump also yielded no progress in the US-Ukraine proposal for a reciprocal truce on striking energy infrastructure. Russia has consistently refused to sign an energy truce since Ukraine first proposed it in March 2025. During the assembly, Zelensky reminded world leaders of the staggering number of casualties in Russia this year and urged them to deny Putin space to act.

He also defended Ukraine's strategy of targeting Russian oil depots and refineries, emphasizing that the aim is not gasoline or diesel, but Russia's ability to finance the war. He warned big oil buyers like India and China that supporting Russia through trade prolongs the conflict. Despite the EU's de-listing of two Russian billionaires, Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials criticized the decision. European leaders consistently expressed strong support for Ukraine throughout the week.