Trump suggests a Ukraine deal on Russia’s war could be close while meeting with Zelensky

UNITED NATIONS, September 23 ------ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump and said he trusted that the White House can help end Russia’s 4½-year war on his country — even as attacks from both sides keep escalating. “I hope that we will end this war, and President Trump will help us help us end this war,” Zelensky said, joining Trump at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where the Ukrainian president was meeting with world leaders.

That meeting occurred after Russian missiles and drones struck at least four Ukrainian regions overnight, strikes that officials said killed five people. Zelensky also said that his country’s forces had damaged two more Russian oil refineries in their latest long-range strikes. The continuing exchange of aerial attacks, even as front-line positions remain largely unchanged.

Trump previously had called on Zelensky to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries and other infrastructure used to produce and distribute diesel, saying the attacks are contributing to global shortages and higher prices. The supply crunch has also been aggravated by reduced oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following the outbreak of the Iran war. Trump and Zelensky briefly addressed reporters before heading behind closed doors. The U.S. president was asked about the Ukrainian strikes and called them “a serious hit on the Russians, but also a serious hit on the price of diesel” which he noted had “gone up quite a bit.”

Trump added that he and Zelensky would further discuss the matter privately. While seeking reelection in 2024, Trump once argued that he could in virtually no time broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, which instead has carried on. Russia invaded Ukraine more than 4½ years ago. Still, Trump said Tuesday, “I think we’re going to make a deal” to quell the fighting. “We talked about it a lot, including with President Putin,” Trump said of a possible agreement, meaning Russian leader Vladmir Putin. “And I think something’s going to happen.”

Putin is not scheduled to attend the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting this year. Asked about the possibility of Zelensky, Putin and Trump meeting during the upcoming G20 gathering in Florida in December, Trump was noncommittal. In subsequent, solo comments to reporters, Zelensky said he was ready to sit down with both leaders but suggested that Putin might balk because he’s not really ready to end the war. He also noted that Ukraine has continued to push the U.S. for more Patriot air defense systems in its efforts to defend itself, but has yet to get clear answers. “They are positive to help us, but I didn’t get the very concrete answer,” Zelensky said.

Defense experts say the U.S. has been experiencing a global shortage of Patriot interceptors because many have been expended to defend against Iranian attacks on U.S. and allied bases in Middle East. Zelensky was also asked about the risk of offensive attacks by drones, missiles or land operations ordered by Moscow that could be high against other countries that border Russia or Belarus. He said such neighboring countries should “respond — always respond” to defend themselves. “If you don’t respond,” he added, “Russians, they will go further.”

Source: apnews.com