Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, aiming to secure an energy truce with Russia. This meeting follows increased attacks on Ukraine's heating and power facilities by Russia, raising concerns about winter energy security. While Zelenskiy has called for a cessation of targeting critical infrastructure, Russia shows no signs of backing down from its current aggressive stance. Trump has previously suggested a ceasefire but it quickly dissolved after both sides continued their attacks. The meeting comes amid global concerns over rising energy prices and the impact of the conflict on international stability.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Summary
On September 19, 2023, during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss efforts towards ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine before winter. Both leaders agreed on the need for de-escalatory steps and diplomatic solutions. During their 40-minute discussion, they focused on potential ways to protect against Russian missile attacks, including the provision of more Patriot missile interceptors by the U.S., although a definitive commitment was not secured. Zelenskyy expressed hope that Russia would agree to halt strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure if Kyiv reciprocates, aiming for an end to hostilities before winter sets in. The meeting also touched upon bilateral issues and air defense support for Ukraine. Despite some diplomatic momentum, the concrete details of these discussions remain unclear, with both leaders emphasizing the urgency to address security concerns and bring peace.
Key Points
- Meeting Date: September 19, 2023
- Location: UN General Assembly in New York
- Topics Discussed:
- Potential de-escalatory steps
- Provision of Patriot missile interceptors
- Protection against Russian missile attacks
- Energy infrastructure and winter protection
- Bilateral issues
- Outcome: Positive but lacking concrete commitments on specific security measures.
Written for “Ukraine Russia Energy Truce Talks” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 13 other(s) covering the same event.
Zelenskiy to meet Trump at UN in push for energy truce with Russia
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is due to meet US President Donald Trump at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, where he will push for an energy truce with Russia.
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he → meet → Russia
Ukrainians fear Russia is gearing up to pound heating and power facilities this winter following intensifying aerial attacks by both sides that have battered ports, warehouses, ships and energy infrastructure, as well as crippling Black Sea exports.
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that → fear → ports
After speaking to Trump by phone on Sunday, Zelenskiy noted what he described as "diplomatic momentum" and "ideas for de-escalation steps", although Russia, which has more missile firepower, has not signalled it seeks to pause the air war.
"Ukraine's energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part.
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this → speak → part
Solutions are possible," Zelenskiy wrote on X on Monday.
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Zelenskiy → write → Monday
Trump, whose approval ratings have slumped to a record low amid high gas prices ahead of the US midterm elections in November, has expressed concern over the extensive damage done to Russian oil refineries that have been pummelled by Ukrainian drone attacks.
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that → slump → attacks
Trump announced last week that Ukraine and Russia had agreed not to strike energy targets, but any semblance of a truce disappeared when Russia hit petrol stations in Kyiv the following day and Ukraine bombed a Russian oil refinery.
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Ukraine → announce → refinery
Some critics see Trump's focus on the Ukraine conflict as a deflection from his war on Iran, which has led to a significant spike in global energy prices.
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which → see → prices
Zelenskiy's meeting with Trump will take place at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.
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meeting → take → Nations
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also expected in New York and due to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.
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Lavrov → expect → Wednesday
RUSSIA 'HAS LOST CONTROL'
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday that "Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil industry due to its War with Ukraine" and "the whole World suffers".
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World → lose → Ukraine
"This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended," Trump wrote.
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Trump → end → Ukraine
A person familiar with the matter said an energy ceasefire was one of the topics under discussion and that Trump had asked Zelenskiy to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries as part of a broader effort to de-escalate the conflict.
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Trump → say → conflict
Kyiv is loath to act alone, however, seeing the extensive damage it is inflicting on Russia's vital oil industry as its best way of forcing Moscow to the negotiating table.
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it → act → table
On Sunday, a Ukrainian drone attack killed three people and pounded a Moscow oil refinery during a tightly controlled Russian election that consolidated the ruling United Russia party's grip on parliament.
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that → kill → parliament
The Kremlin is widely expected to present the results of that vote as evidence of public backing for Russian President Vladimir Putin's policies and for the war.
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Kremlin → expect → war
MEETING HARD TO PREDICT
The volatile chemistry between Zelenskiy and Trump has seen their relations see-saw since the US president took office last year and ended his predecessor's huge US-funded military aid for Ukraine.
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president → meet → Ukraine
In February 2025, a meeting between the two leaders descended into a shouting match in the Oval Office, while their meeting at the United Nations last year triggered an abrupt rhetorical shift by Trump in Zelenskiy's favour in which he said Ukraine could expel Russia from all Ukrainian territory.
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Ukraine → descend → territory
On Tuesday, Zelenskiy will also discuss with Trump how Ukraine can source US-made Patriot air defence missiles for the winter if Russia is not prepared to de-escalate, a source familiar with the matter said.
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source → discuss → matter
Russia has significantly ramped up the use of jet-powered drones to attack Ukraine in recent months and in July fired the largest number of ballistic missiles at Ukraine in a single month since the start of the war.
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Russia → ramp → war
The latter is a huge problem for Ukraine as they can only be intercepted by Patriot air defence missiles that are in short supply.
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that → intercept → supply
The Aporia
