Trump and Zelenskyy discuss winter ceasefire and Patriot missile production at UN

Bilateral meetings at the United Nations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump met on 22 September 2026 on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The bilateral talks focused on de-escalation steps aimed at ending the war before the onset of the 2026/2027 winter. Zelenskyy framed winter as a critical deadline, stating that prolonged fighting in freezing weather threatens civilian survival amid sustained infrastructure strikes. Trump agreed on the urgency of the timeframe and asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to direct negotiations following their prior meeting in Alaska.

He will meet. He is ready to meet. He wants to end the war.

Reciprocal energy truce and maritime moratorium

At a press conference following the discussions, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine proposed a mutual halt to strikes targeting energy facilities. Under the proposed terms, the Ukrainian Armed Forces would cease attacks on Russian refineries and power plants if Russia halts strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure. American officials will transmit the proposal to Moscow. French President Emmanuel Macron supported the initiative during separate talks with Trump and Zelenskyy, urging an immediate moratorium on strikes against civilian grid assets and commercial routes in the Black Sea.

Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure threaten to leave millions of families without heat and electricity. France will stand by Ukraine to face the winter.

Air defense cooperation and Patriot manufacturing

Strengthening Ukraine's defensive shield against winter ballistic attacks was another core component of the summit. Zelenskyy announced that Trump reacted positively to a Ukrainian request for licensing rights to manufacture Patriot air defense missiles domestically. Ukrainian officials held discussions with RTX Raytheon, with Zelenskyy estimating that domestic missile assembly would take between 12 and 18 months to establish. Meanwhile, France finalized a contract with Ukraine to supply radar units and interceptor missiles, while Ukrainian teams work to secure additional SAMP/T systems through European Union loan mechanisms.

Economic pressure and diplomatic venues

The leaders also discussed trade policies, economic leverage, and prospective diplomatic forums. Zelenskyy proposed holding a trilateral summit between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Miami, though Trump noted Miami may not be the chosen location. On the economic front, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the administration is studying a full or partial export ban on American diesel. Trump also raised the possibility of enforcing tariffs under legislation drafted by Lindsey Graham against nations purchasing Russian energy, specifically naming China as the primary importer.