Zelensky, Trump Agree to Meet in New York as Ukraine-US Peace Efforts Gain ‘Momentum’

President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump have agreed to meet in New York, Zelensky said following a phone call with the Trump on Sunday. “An important conversation, and we got through a lot. We agreed to meet in New York, and this meeting could change a lot. There is diplomatic momentum,” Zelensky said, according to a statement published by his press service.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Zelensky thanked Trump for sending US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv, saying their visit allowed the sides to discuss key issues and gave the US representatives an opportunity to see the situation in Ukraine firsthand. He said advancing the peace process remains Ukraine’s “number one priority.” According to him, the sides have ideas for de-escalation measures and addressing what he described as fundamental security issues, including energy security, food security, and the protection of human life. “We are working together with the American team and are ready to take really serious steps,” Zelensky said. He also thanked Trump for signing the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill into law. “We all concur – there must be peace,” Zelensky said. In early September, Zelensky said he expected to meet with Trump in the second half of the month and planned to press Washington for support for Ukraine’s new missile program and supplies of US ballistic missiles. Other Topics of Interest Russia Fired 2,000 Drones and 19 Missiles This Week, Zelensky Says Russia launched over 2,000 drones, 1,700 glide bombs, and 19 missiles this week, with most drones jet-powered, Volodymyr Zelensky said. The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Zelensky had proposed holding a new round of US-backed talks in late September. The expected meeting comes as Washington steps up diplomatic efforts to revive peace negotiations. US envoys traveled from Moscow to Kyiv, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sept. 5 before holding talks with Zelensky in Kyiv on Sept. 6. Witkoff described the talks with Putin as constructive and said Washington had heard “new ideas” from Moscow, while Kushner referred to a broader “peace package.” Zelensky described his talks with the US envoys as “very substantial” and said Kyiv was ready to move toward trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, the US, and Russia. National security advisers from the Germany, France, and the UK, also joined part of the Kyiv discussions. Zelensky said Kyiv and Washington were working toward a trilateral negotiating format. “We agreed with the American side: let’s prepare all this among ourselves first, and then communicate it publicly,” he said. The US has also reportedly been exploring the possibility of a winter de-escalation between Russia and Ukraine alongside renewed negotiations on a broader peace agreement. Ideas under discussion reportedly include measures involving energy infrastructure, grain supplies, and oil and gas exports. The US delegation reportedly told Zelensky that Moscow was prepared to engage in negotiations, despite Russia’s continued attacks against Ukraine. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.