Trump: Zelenskyy and Putin could 'reach a deal before heavy winter'

On September 25, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin could potentially reach a deal before the onset of a harsh winter. When questioned about whether he had discussed Patriot missiles with Zelenskyy, Trump confirmed that he had spoken to the Ukrainian president extensively, and both Zelenskyy and Putin were in agreement.

However, Trump did not elaborate on the nature of the supposed agreement, whether it would be a peace accord, a ceasefire, or a partial cessation of hostilities.

Prior to Trump's comments, Zelenskyy and Trump had met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on September 22. During this meeting, Trump expressed confidence that an agreement between Russia and Ukraine would be reached, although he did not provide any specifics. He also mentioned that Putin was prepared to meet with Zelenskyy to discuss ending the conflict in Ukraine.

Following the meeting, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was open to any format of an energy ceasefire with Russia, as long as it was mutually reciprocal. He further expressed hope that the war in Ukraine could be concluded before the winter season.

Sources cited by Bloomberg reported that during their meeting in New York, Trump proposed holding talks with Putin in Moscow. However, Zelenskyy reportedly rejected this idea, which reportedly upset Trump. According to Ukraine's Presidential Office, Trump's proposal was not true, and the outlet's report was inaccurate. In New York, Russian propagandists attempted to persuade Zelenskyy to reveal when he would visit Moscow, to which he responded dismissively, "On a f***ing missile."