Zelenskyy to meet Trump at UN, push for new U.S. sanctions on Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations on Tuesday to push for new sanctions on Russia and reinforce U.S. support for Kyiv’s war effort.

According to a source in Ukraine’s delegation, Zelenskyy aims to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and arranging a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders as part of Trump’s proposed peace initiative.

Trump has suggested a potential trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance efforts to end the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Moscow, however, has indicated no such meeting is planned and stressed that any discussions would require careful preparation. Kyiv sees this as evidence that Russia is unwilling to compromise and continues to obstruct peace efforts.

The New York meeting was set to occur shortly after Trump addressed the U.N. General Assembly, noting that the war had not reflected positively on Russia. He threatened potential economic measures against Moscow while urging U.S. allies to take similar steps, criticizing European countries for continuing to purchase Russian energy.

Kyiv’s hopes for tougher new U.S. sanctions have waned as Zelenskyy’s talks with Trump were reportedly less tense than previous meetings, reflecting lessons learned from February’s Oval Office confrontation.

While Ukraine does not expect direct new military aid, it continues to rely on U.S. intelligence sharing and mechanisms allowing Europe to procure U.S. weapons, including air defence systems. Maintaining strong ties with Trump remains critical for Kyiv, despite his policy shift away from the firm military and diplomatic backing previously provided under President Joe Biden.

Ukrainians were reportedly alarmed by Trump’s warm reception of Putin at a summit in Alaska in August, reinforcing the view that Russia will not end its war without significant external pressure, including sanctions.

Trump has repeatedly threatened economic measures against Russia but has yet to implement them, aiming to give his peace efforts a chance to succeed.

The Ukrainian delegation has emphasized that its visit to the U.N. is not only about seeking support, but also demonstrating Ukraine’s capability to contribute strategically. The country’s Foreign Minister stated on Monday that Kyiv is ready to integrate its battle-hardened air defence network with Western systems, in response to NATO concerns over Russian airspace violations in neighboring countries.

Last week, Estonia reported that three Russian fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes, while Poland reported over a dozen drones crossing its borders. Russia dismissed these claims, accusing the West of hysteria.

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