Zelenskyy hopes Trump will help end Russia’s war before winter

What happened

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a live broadcast at the start of his talks with former US President Donald Trump in New York on 22 September that he hopes Trump will help end Russia’s war against Ukraine, ideally before the onset of winter. Zelenskyy said, “I hope we will end this war, and President Trump will help us to end this war. And I think that we need to do this as quickly as possible, before winter – better before winter, that's very important.”

Earlier on the same day, Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “settle the war” as he arrived at the United Nations General Assembly session. Trump made a brief statement to reporters urging an end to the conflict, echoing his social media assertion that Russia has lost control of its oil refining industry and should end its “never-ending war” against Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also responded to Trump’s social media post by stating that Ukraine is willing to work towards de-escalation and will discuss diplomatic proposals with international partners. The context indicates a potential window for diplomatic efforts, though no specific plans or proposals were detailed in the source.

Known from the source

• On 22 September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with former US President Donald Trump in New York and expressed hope Trump will help end Russia’s war against Ukraine before winter.
• Zelenskyy made this statement during a live broadcast at the start of their talks.
• Trump, upon arriving at the UN General Assembly on the same day, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war.
• Trump stated that Russia has lost control of its oil refining industry and called for an end to Russia’s 'never-ending war' against Ukraine.
• Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is willing to pursue diplomatic talks and proposals for de-escalation with its partners.

What remains unclear

The statements come amid ongoing Russian military actions in Ukraine, but the source does not provide further details on shifts in the conflict or any immediate impact from these political signals. The interaction between Zelenskyy and Trump remains publicly limited to these expressions of hope and calls for peace.

What remains unclear: Verify the exact timing and context of Zelenskyy’s and Trump’s statements. Confirm there were no additional official announcements or concrete diplomatic measures resulting from the Zelenskyy-Trump meeting. Check for any follow-up statements by Ukrainian officials or other international diplomatic actors. Ensure quotes are reproduced accurately and attributed correctly.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Ukrainska Pravda English. Open the source.