On September 20, 2026, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump agreed to meet in New York during the UN General Assembly. This meeting will take place against the backdrop of increasing US sanctions pressure on Russia and a new phase of American diplomatic efforts.
Discussion of Key Issues
During a phone conversation, the presidents discussed several important topics, including:
- Diplomatic steps to end the war.
- Protection of people.
- Energy and food security.
Zelensky emphasized that there is currently a "diplomatic momentum," and that the upcoming meeting could significantly impact the situation.
Trump on Strikes Against Russian Refineries
According to Axios, Trump repeatedly urged Zelensky to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries, as these actions lead to rising global diesel prices. The word "diesel" was mentioned frequently during the conversation. Head of the Ukrainian delegation Rustem Umerov also noted significant progress in negotiations, reducing the number of contentious issues to one or two key points.
Prospects of Conflict Escalation
European intelligence agencies are discussing the possibility of checking NATO's readiness to respond to potential escalation from Russia. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that there is a likelihood of a Russian attack on NATO territory in the coming months. This could be an attempt to test how effectively Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty works.