Key facts
- President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the U.S. on September 21.
- Zelensky is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on September 22.
- The leaders will attend the UN General Assembly in New York.
- Zelensky plans to discuss de-escalation measures and protecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure and food exports.
- A new deal concerning drones is ready to be signed.
- Trump has previously linked Ukrainian strikes against Russian refineries to surging global diesel prices.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States on September 21 for high-stakes meetings, including a planned discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war. The two leaders are set to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York, a venue for global leaders to debate international challenges.
Zelensky stated that his meeting with Trump, scheduled for September 22, could significantly impact the conflict. He aims to discuss concrete security proposals, de-escalation measures, and the protection of Ukraine's energy infrastructure and food exports from Russian attacks. Zelensky indicated a readiness to work towards peace, suggesting that the aggressor would also suffer consequences, a sentiment echoed by Trump's earlier comments on the war's impact on Russian oil refining and global diesel prices.
This visit occurs amidst renewed diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the invasion, which has been ongoing for over four and a half years. Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had previously traveled to Kyiv and Moscow to facilitate stalled peace talks. The U.S. has also recently authorized a potential $2.7 billion sale of air defenses to Ukraine and a significant tariff bill on Russian oil and gas buyers.
Despite these diplomatic initiatives, Zelensky anticipates the active phase of the war may continue into the winter. Ukraine is seeking additional U.S.-made Patriot missile interceptors and is pursuing licenses for domestic production.