Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the U.S. is working to ease the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict ahead of winter while seeking to restart broader peace talks.
Zelenskyy told Axios on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be relying on another severe winter to weaken Ukraine. Nonetheless, he also mentioned that Putin would likely avoid antagonizing President Donald Trump before the midterm elections, stating, “My feeling [is] that Putin needs Trump,” adding that “He doesn’t want … to upset him.”
The Trump administration could pressure Putin into de-escalating the war, even if the Russian leader is unwilling, according to Zelenskyy. He also agreed that Putin might seek to give Trump a diplomatic win ahead of the U.S. elections.
The Ukrainian President also shared that he met Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in Kyiv on Sunday. He said their message was that “the Russians are ready to negotiate.”
Zelensky stated that the main objective of the U.S. envoys’ visit was to “unblock” the diplomatic process, bringing fresh ideas to the table. Although he did not disclose all the specifics, he mentioned discussions about possible de-escalation measures from both Russia and Ukraine, involving energy facilities, grain shipments, electricity facilities, and oil and gas exports.
Ukraine Secures UK Air Defense Aid
Zelensky also told Axios the U.S. supports a separate winter aid package for Ukraine covering air defense, energy assistance and LNG supplies, alongside broader steps aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
Notably, on Tuesday, the UK has pledged £100 million (about $135.16 million) to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses ahead of winter, including Patriot missiles and other military equipment, the Guardian reported. The funding comes as Ukraine faces shortages of interceptors amid Russian attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Gain Momentum
On Monday, Witkoff said Washington made “substantive progress” in efforts to revive Russia-Ukraine peace talks after meetings in Moscow and Kyiv. He pointed to movement toward new trilateral talks involving the U.S., Russia and Ukraine, though Moscow cautioned that dates remain premature.
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day “no-shoot policy” to facilitate peace discussions, according to Witkoff. In Kyiv, national security advisers from Britain, Germany and France joined the delegations, working together on potential next steps toward advancing negotiations and finding a path forward in the conflict.
Last week, Putin said a peace deal with Ukraine is possible, noting U.S. and Chinese support for negotiations. Trump said he would meet Putin only when Moscow is ready for peace.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested a “new dynamic” in the peace initiatives, though he did not disclose specific details.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
