Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he directly asked President Donald Trump to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to leverage Beijing’s sway over Moscow in a diplomatic push to end Russia’s four‑and‑a‑half‑year invasion of Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, who spent a week in Washington for the United Nations General Assembly, met with President Trump on Tuesday and later relayed his request in voice messages to a group of journalists. He noted that he has not yet received feedback from the White House about any talks between Trump and Xi, but expects an answer soon.
Trump’s recent actions support Ukraine
The Ukrainian leader highlighted several steps the Trump administration has already taken that strengthen Kyiv’s position. In late August, Trump signed a robust sanctions package targeting Russia, a bill that Zelenskyy praised as “powerful” and essential for pressuring President Vladimir Putin. While the law has been enacted, Trump has not yet issued the specific licensing measures that would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot air‑defense systems, a decision Zelenskyy said remains pending.
“The sanctions are indeed strong … all of this is now in the hands of the president of the United States,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that the President can use these tools to compel Moscow to negotiate.
Broader diplomatic outreach
Beyond the China request, Zelenskyy outlined a broader agenda pursued during his U.S. visit. He discussed a three‑way technical meeting involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia, with the United Arab Emirates proposed as a possible venue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump had spoken earlier in the month about such a meeting, though no specifics were given.
Zelenskyy also met with U.S. senators and representatives, thanking them for bipartisan support of the sanctions bill, and held separate talks with leaders from India, Turkey, Egypt and other Middle Eastern nations seeking safe Black Sea shipping routes. He raised concerns about the impact of Black Sea attacks on global food supplies, noting that both Ukraine and Russia are major exporters of wheat, barley and sunflower oil.
Economic and military aid
The Ukrainian president reported ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission to address Ukraine’s budget shortfall caused by wartime expenses and reduced production. He said the European Union will continue its financial assistance, and the IMF will maintain its support programs.
On the military front, Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains a world leader in drone technology and is exploring joint production deals to fund future weapon purchases. He also noted recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and unconfirmed reports of attacks on a Russian military electronics plant.
Continued fighting on the ground
Russian aerial attacks continued across Ukraine, killing four civilians and wounding 11, while Ukrainian long‑range strikes resulted in one Russian death and 21 injuries, according to Russian officials. In Kyiv, a 14‑year‑old boy was killed and at least seven residents were injured during overnight bombardments.
Despite the relentless fighting, Zelenskyy expressed optimism that President Trump’s diplomatic outreach to China, combined with the strong sanctions already in place, could create the pressure needed to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
