Vitaliy Portnikov analyzes the main outcomes of the meeting between US and Ukrainian leaders Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly. The meeting marked a turning point in Trump's rhetoric on the Russian-Ukrainian war and the future US influence on the situation.
During the talks, Trump publicly acknowledged Ukraine's brave and effective resistance to Russian aggression, highlighting the dire state of the Russian economy due to the prolonged war. He stressed that Russia's hopes for a rapid end to the conflict were not realized, and expressed support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Trump called for European countries to completely stop buying Russian energy resources, emphasizing that financing Russia through oil and gas purchases prolongs the war. He mentioned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s position on Russian oil supplies, drawing attention to third-country schemes to bypass sanctions.
Discussions included strengthening sanctions, the need to supply Ukraine with long-range weapons, and enhancing NATO cooperation to combat Russian drones in European airspace. There were calls to establish no-fly zones and shoot down Russian aircraft if they intrude into Alliance members’ airspace.
The meeting signaled a notable change in US and Trump’s views on Ukraine’s borders and approaches to energy security. Zelensky thanked Trump for his attention to Ukraine’s challenges and stated that security guarantees and real partner support remain crucial agenda items.
Portnikov concluded that Trump’s rhetoric has become tougher toward Russia against the backdrop of new security threats in Europe, drone attacks, and conflict escalation. He emphasized that future cooperation among the US, NATO, and Ukraine will depend on concrete steps following this meeting and developments at the front.
