The two leaders spoke by phone on September 20, with a sit-down expected on the sidelines of UNGA as diplomatic momentum builds around energy ceasefires and Russian sanctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Saturday that he and US President Donald Trump have agreed to meet in New York, following a phone call between the two leaders that Zelenskyy described as part of growing “diplomatic momentum” around the war in Ukraine.
The meeting is expected to take place during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, which runs September 21-23.
What was discussed
Zelenskyy shared details of the phone call via Telegram, outlining a conversation that covered a range of issues central to the conflict. Energy and food security topped the agenda, alongside de-escalation steps, civilian protection, and coordination on broader peace efforts.
Zelenskyy also used the call to thank Trump for recently imposed sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector. Those sanctions, signed into law before the planned New York meeting, represent a notable shift in the Trump administration’s posture toward Moscow’s revenue streams.
The Ukrainian president additionally expressed gratitude for recent US diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, specifically visits from envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that took place earlier in September. The Witkoff and Kushner trips to both Kyiv and Moscow in early September signaled a more hands-on approach from the Trump administration.
The UNGA backdrop
The meeting has not yet appeared on Trump’s publicly available UN General Assembly schedule, though plans were reportedly being coordinated for a sit-down during the September 21-23 window.
Zelenskyy has signaled a willingness to pursue partial ceasefires focused on energy infrastructure and Black Sea grain exports, even if a comprehensive ceasefire remains out of reach.
