Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told leaders of the United States and the United Kingdom in New York City that his country is open to a mutual halt on energy infrastructure attacks with Russia. In a Telegram post on Tuesday, he also stated that Russia was preparing a large-scale strike against Ukraine.
Attending the UN General Assembly in New York, Zelenskyy held a 40-minute meeting with President Trump, describing the discussions as centred on bringing an end to the full-scale conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has now entered its fifth year. In a post on X, he described the discussions as constructive, adding that both the US and Ukraine were seeking to bring the conflict with Russia to a close before winter arrived.
He noted that the talks covered possible measures to reduce tensions and create conditions conducive to diplomatic engagement. Speaking to journalists at the United Nations building in New York, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is prepared to cease attacks on Russian energy infrastructure provided Moscow ends its strikes against Ukraine's power grid.
He emphasised, however, that no conversation with Trump had taken place regarding Kyiv unilaterally halting strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure. Zelenskyy added that Ukraine stood prepared for an energy ceasefire — refraining from targeting fuel facilities and refineries provided Russia likewise ceased attacks on Ukrainian energy networks, electricity generation, heating infrastructure, and water supplies. This came as Trump, whose approval ratings had fallen to their lowest recorded level amid elevated fuel costs ahead of the November midterm elections, had in recent days raised concerns about the scale of damage Ukraine had inflicted on Russia's fuel-processing capacity and its effect on diesel prices worldwide.
Before the talks got underway, Trump told reporters that he and Zelenskyy intended to address Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on oil refineries, characterising those operations as having inflicted measurable damage on Russian energy infrastructure. Trump added that the measure would also affect diesel prices. He noted that discussions would extend to potential pathways toward ending the conflict, which erupted when Russian forces launched a full-scale military offensive against Ukraine in 2022, and expressed confidence that progress would be achieved.
The president announced a mutual ceasefire on energy infrastructure last week, yet strikes on such targets resumed shortly afterwards. Moscow had earlier expressed support for the American energy moratorium proposal, while simultaneously pushing for provisions to address its maritime oil shipments and existing trade restrictions.
In a Telegram post following talks with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Zelenskyy said that lifting sanctions on Russia remained off the table while Ukraine endured ongoing aerial attacks, and that available intelligence pointed to Russia planning a large-scale offensive against the country.
Calls for a halt to strikes on energy infrastructure have gained renewed momentum following a period of escalating long-range attacks carried out by both parties. Attacks on Ukrainian power facilities, fuel supplies, and port infrastructure have occurred on multiple occasions, with analysts noting the potential strain on the country's energy networks as winter temperatures decline.
Ukrainian officials reported that approximately 200 Russian drones struck targets across the country on 15 September, with fuel depots in Kyiv and energy and port facilities in other regions among the sites affected. Separately, drone strikes on oil refineries and energy infrastructure have formed part of an aerial offensive reaching targets as far as 3,000km (1,860 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
An attack on 20 September led to a suspension of crude processing at the Moscow oil refinery, which had handled around 230,000 barrels per day during 2024, according to industry sources cited by a news outlet.
Zelenskyy conveyed to Trump that he was seeking an expanded air-defence package, including more Patriot missiles, ahead of winter, noting they represented the sole system in Ukraine's arsenal capable of intercepting ballistic projectiles, as concerns grew over potential strikes on energy infrastructure. Conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have drawn down stockpiles of Patriot missile systems worldwide, including those held by the United States.
Zelenskyy proposed that Ukraine would offset immediate deliveries from existing American stockpiles this winter by transferring future interceptor allocations drawn from a separate German agreement, under which Berlin has committed to supplying 600 Patriot missiles to Kyiv in 2027 and 2028. Speaking with reporters, he described the proposal's non-rejection as a positive development, while noting that Trump had yet to formally endorse it. Negotiations over Ukraine producing Patriot missile systems under licence were reported to be continuing.
Burnham, during bilateral discussions with Trump, put forward a case for a ceasefire covering energy infrastructure in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Burnham also pledged additional funding to Kyiv for infrastructure reconstruction.
