Trump and Zelensky agree to New York talks, expected Sept. 22
Trump repeatedly asked Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries, citing higher diesel prices, a person familiar with their call told Axios.
The talks. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed during their Sunday, Sept. 20 call to meet at the United Nations’ annual gathering of world leaders. Ukraine said it was prepared to take serious steps to reduce the fighting. The White House sought steps from both Russia and Ukraine to restart negotiations, Axios reported. The attacks. Ukraine said it launched more than 1,000 drones overnight into Sept. 20. Two people were reported killed and 20 wounded in the wider Moscow region during the attacks, according to PBS NewsHour/AP.
PREVIOUSLY
- Sept. 5–6 — U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Moscow and Kyiv with a peace proposal; temporary pauses in fighting protected the visits.
- Sept. 9 — Russia resumed strikes on Kyiv, killing seven people that day, after the envoys left without an agreement.
- Sept. 15 — Trump announced an energy truce (a halt to attacks on energy sites); Ukraine said its halt depended on Russia stopping attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
- Sept. 17–19 — Congress sent Trump legislation authorizing tariffs (taxes on imports) on buyers of Russian oil. He signed it, also requiring sanctions (government penalties) on Russian officials.