Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Friday that he requested US President Donald Trump to encourage Chinese President Xi Jinping to leverage Beijing’s influence over Moscow to facilitate a diplomatic resolution to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has lasted for over four years. Zelensky mentioned that he has not yet received feedback from the White House regarding Trump's discussions with Xi but anticipates an update soon.
During his visit to the United States, coinciding with the UN General Assembly, Zelensky met with Trump on Tuesday. NATO countries have labeled China as a "decisive enabler" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. Zelensky provided additional insights about his US trip through voice messages to journalists.
The US is advocating for a trilateral meeting involving delegations from the US, Ukraine, and Russia, with technical discussions occurring without the leaders present, according to Zelensky. He noted that Ukraine is awaiting a proposed date for these meetings, with American officials suggesting the United Arab Emirates as a potential venue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump discussed the possibility of such a meeting during their call earlier this month, although he could not provide specific details at this time.
Earlier this year, representatives from the three nations engaged in three rounds of trilateral negotiations, held twice in Abu Dhabi and once in Geneva, but these discussions did not yield significant progress.
In a statement made in St. Petersburg, Putin criticized recent Ukrainian attacks in Russia and on Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine, asserting that while proposals for resuming talks are available, Moscow will carefully consider its response. He emphasized that decisions regarding the negotiation process will be based on the interests of the Russian Federation.
During his US visit, Zelensky also met with US senators and congressional members, expressing gratitude for their bipartisan support in passing a sanctions bill aimed at Russia last month. Trump signed the bill into law last week, though the measures have not yet been implemented.
Zelensky highlighted the importance of sanctions in compelling Putin to engage in negotiations, stating that he hopes Trump will enforce these measures. He remarked, "The sanctions are indeed strong ... all of this is now in the hands of the president of the United States. He can use this tool to pressure the Russian Federation."
Zelensky also noted that Trump confirmed a decision allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense systems, which are crucial for countering Russian missile attacks. However, there has been a shortage of these systems since the conflict began on February 28.
Zelensky mentioned that he held discussions with leaders from India, Turkey, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern nations regarding unimpeded shipping routes in the Black Sea. He expressed that these leaders are also expected to communicate with Russian officials.
Kyiv is advocating for a ceasefire in the Black Sea to enable full resumption of deliveries, according to Zelensky. He also spoke with the heads of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission about addressing Ukraine's budget deficit, which has been exacerbated by wartime expenses and reduced production. He stated that the European Union will extend financial aid to Ukraine, and the IMF will continue its support programs.
Zelensky indicated that much of the funding gap is related to weapons procurement, and future financing could involve technology-sharing agreements and joint drone production, as Ukraine is recognized as a leader in military drones.
Recent Russian aerial assaults on Ukraine resulted in five fatalities and 11 injuries, while Russian authorities reported one death and 21 injuries due to Ukrainian strikes. Zelensky reported that eight Ukrainian regions were attacked, with relentless assaults on the capital, including a strike on an office building that killed four individuals. A 14-year-old boy was also killed in a strike on a Kyiv apartment building, with at least seven others injured.
Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its forces targeted a missile engine depot near Kyiv, among other sites. Zelensky noted that Ukraine targeted two refineries as part of its ongoing efforts to undermine the Russian economy, and unverified Russian media reports suggested that Ukrainian drones also attacked a military electronics plant and a synthetic rubber producer.