President Volodymyr Zelensky met his US counterpart Donald Trump to discuss ceasefire proposals in Ukraine and a path toward ending Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky said the discussion with Trump focused on proposals for an energy truce, support for Ukraine during winter, and Patriot production licences for Ukraine.
Ahead of the meeting, Zelensky emphasised the need for ‘strong de-escalation steps’ to bring the peace closer. He told reporters after the meeting with Trump that the leaders discussed a proposed ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks. Ukraine, for its part, is ready to accept such a deal.
Ukraine supports a total ceasefire on all energy infrastructure, including oil and diesel refineries, Zelensky said, but it will only work if Russia commits to the same truce.
“We are ready for any kind of format of energy ceasefire... We are very thankful to American side. They will share it with Russians. I don’t know the Russian position,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine has not received any “one-sided order” to stop attacks on Russia, and will stop striking Russian oil processing infrastructure only if Moscow does the same, Zelensky said.
Trump can use his tariff authorities under the newly passed Lindsey Graham sanctions bill to pressure Russia into halting its brutal strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid in winter, he added.
The meeting came shortly after Trump signed a major sanctions bill granting him authority to impose a 100 per cent tariff on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, and after the US State Department greenlit a possible $2.7 billion sale of air defences to Ukraine.
Zelensky also said they discussed support for Ukraine during the winter months — perhaps indicating that Russia is more likely to continue pounding Kyiv’s power grid in the cold season rather than accept a ceasefire on energy attacks.
The two also discussed the topic of Patriot production licences for Ukraine – something the White House has previously promised, but then backed away from.
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