The Ukrainian president said he discussed “potential de-escalatory steps that can open up the way to diplomacy” in a meeting with Donald Trump. The United States and Ukraine want Russia’s war "senseless" brought to end before winter, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after holding what he described as "productive and positive" talks with his US counterpart Donald Trump in New York. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday as Washington steps up efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, now into its fifth year. Zelenskyy said they discussed “potential de-escalatory steps that could open the way to diplomacy”, as well as a winter air-defense package and efforts to launch Patriot interceptor production in Ukraine. He later told reporters he was prepared to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in a trilateral format alongside Trump. "Both the U.S. and Ukraine want to see this senseless Russian war ended before winter," he wrote on X. "I am grateful that in the meantime our teams keep working on launching Patriot interceptor production in Ukraine," he added. "This is what will help protect lives, should Russia spurn the negotiations and keep betting on ballistic missile terror against our people this winter and beyond." Patriot push Much of Ukraine’s diplomatic energy in recent months has gone toward persuading Trump to grant it the right to make Patriot missiles. The US-made Patriot is the only air-defense system in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, but both the systems and their interceptors are in short supply. The shortage has made it increasingly difficult for Kyiv to protect its cities and critical infrastructure from intensifying Russian attacks. Trump initially said Washington would grant Ukraine a production license during a NATO summit in Turkey in July. He later backtracked, saying no agreement had been reached and expressing concern about sharing sensitive US military technology. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was asking the US for “two things” ahead of winter: “The first is a winter package of Patriot missiles. The second is licenses to produce Patriots.” Zelenskyy: I’m open to Putin-Trump talks Speaking to reporters later, Zelenskyy reiterated that he was open to meeting Putin in a trilateral format with Trump. Putin has repeatedly rejected calls for a face-to-face meeting with the Ukrainian leader, most recently saying in June that he saw “no point” in such talks. One of the potential first steps towards de-escalation could be a limited ceasefire to stop attacks on energy infrastructure. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian oil and gas facilities in recent months, while Russia caused misery for Ukraine last winter by repeatedly striking its energy systems. Experts have warned Ukrainians to prepare for another tough winter. Zelenskyy told reporters that Trump had not asked Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy facilities unilaterally but added that a reciprocal energy ceasefire could serve as a first step toward ending the wider war. “We are ready for an energy ceasefire if they do not attack our energy system, our electricity, heating, and water supply. This is our proposal,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “I’m not sure Russia is ready as of today.” Zelenskyy also said Trump should seek Chinese President Xi Jinping’s help in negotiations with Putin, saying Xi “has influence on Putin.” ‘Time to stop the killing’ Hours before meeting Zelenskyy, Trump told the UN General Assembly that Washington was working “very closely” with both Kyiv and Moscow and predicted that the war would end sooner than widely expected. He also threatened further economic pressure on Russia, saying legislation he signed last Friday had given him “enormous new tariff authority.” Trump was referring to the new act passed in Congress and named in honor of Lindsey Graham, the late Republican senator who championed the legislation. The law allows tariffs of up to 500% on Russian goods and up to 100% on goods from the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas. “If necessary, we will have to use it,” Trump said, adding: “It’s time to stop the killing.” Responding to Trump’s speech, Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said the US leader’s threat to use tariffs was “not a small thing.” “This is a big threat and if I were Vladimir Putin, I would take it seriously,” Sikorski added.
