Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in New York alongside First Lady Olena Zelenska to attend the United Nations General Assembly. The visit comes as Kyiv seeks to secure a new drone agreement with allies and push for a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure to protect heating and power facilities ahead of the winter season.
President Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss a potential limited truce. The diplomatic push follows concerns over the impact of the ongoing conflict on global energy markets. President Trump recently stated on Truth Social that Russia had “unfortunately lost control” of its oil industry, noting that a significant number of diesel refineries have been damaged. According to reports, Trump has urged the Ukrainian leadership to halt long-range strikes on these facilities, citing concerns that the attacks are driving up global diesel prices.
In response to these concerns, President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has consistently pursued peace through numerous diplomatic proposals. “Right now, there is a dialogue with President Trump and America,” Zelensky said, adding that there are ideas on the table for de-escalation. “Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, who also arrived in New York, met with Zelensky on Monday. Macron highlighted the urgent need to protect Ukraine’s energy grid, warning that millions of families face the risk of losing heat and electricity. France has pledged to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses through the delivery of new radar systems and interceptors. Macron also confirmed he discussed the prospect of an energy truce and a Black Sea moratorium with President Trump.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region remains dire. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that the delegation intends to raise the issue at the UN, alleging that residents are suffering from hunger and cold while Russian forces block humanitarian access. “We will talk about Oleshky here, at the highest level, and we will apply pressure so that the world hears this and makes Russia provide humanitarian access,” Sybiha said.
On the battlefield, the Russian Defence Ministry reported a massive strike on Ukrainian industrial, military, and energy targets, while claiming to have intercepted 297 drones across various regions. Conversely, local officials in Russia’s Samara region reported that Ukrainian drone strikes hit civilian areas, resulting in one death and four injuries. Both Russia and Ukraine continue to deny targeting civilians.
Separately, the European Union is working to finalize an extension of sanctions against Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that sanctions remain a “core pillar” of the bloc’s response to the war. Negotiations are ongoing in Brussels regarding the renewal of sanctions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities, amid internal debates over potential removals from the blacklist.
