US and Ukrainian Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. They discussed a possible end to the war. After the talks, Zelensky said he was ready to meet with Vladimir Putin and to an energy truce. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Course of the talks
The talks lasted about 40 minutes. The presidents first spoke to journalists, after which the meeting continued in a closed format, UA.NEWS reports.
Before the talks began, Zelensky expressed hope that the war could be ended before winter with the assistance of the US president. The full recording of his remarks was published by C-SPAN.
"We will finish this war, and President Trump will help us finish this war. As soon as possible, before winter," Zelensky said.
Trump expressed confidence in the possibility of a deal but declined to disclose its supposed terms.
"I think they will make a deal. But I don't want to say what that deal will be. We talk about it a lot, including with President Putin. I think something will happen," the US president said.
Trump added that he has good relations with Zelensky, and that the American and Ukrainian sides are trying to find a way to end the war.
Readiness to meet Putin
After the meeting, Zelensky told journalists that he was ready for talks with Vladimir Putin. Excerpts of his remarks were published by Clash Report.
According to the Ukrainian president, Trump could organize trilateral talks during which the leaders would discuss the most difficult issues.
"Trump can organize a trilateral meeting where the leaders can raise all sensitive issues and try to end the war. I am ready to meet with Putin at any time," Zelensky said.
Zelensky had previously allowed for a trilateral meeting involving the presidents of the US and Russia.
On historical causes
Commenting on a possible end to the conflict, Zelensky rejected attempts to explain the start of the war by historical causes.
"When people talk about ending the war and cite historical causes — that, honestly, is complete nonsense. If you want to end a war, you don't start it. If you want to solve a problem, you solve it," he said.
Zelensky also commented on the position of the Russian president. In his view, the absence of victory on the battlefield creates an internal political problem for Putin.
"Putin is not winning on the battlefield. For him this is a problem, because he needs to show something to his own society. This is not about us, not about the Americans and not about the Ukrainians. He respects no one. His issue is the Russian people. He fears only his own people," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian president also said that the Russian leadership must explain the goals of the ongoing hostilities and losses.
"When there is a million people on the battlefield on the territory of another country, dying in thousands every month, how can you explain what this is all for if you have no victories?" Zelensky said.
The claim about a million people is Zelensky's own estimate. There is no independent confirmation of the figure he cited in the published materials of the meeting.
Energy truce
Zelensky confirmed Kyiv's readiness to stop attacks on Russian energy facilities provided that Moscow halts strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
"We are ready for an energy truce if Russia does not attack our energy infrastructure," the Ukrainian president said.
According to Zelensky, the energy truce must provide for Russia's complete renunciation of attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities with any types of weapons. In response, Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian oil and gas infrastructure.