KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Friday that he requested U.S. President Donald Trump to encourage Chinese President Xi Jinping to leverage China's influence over Russia in a diplomatic effort to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has lasted 4½ years. Zelenskyy mentioned that he has not yet received feedback from the White House regarding Trump's discussions with Xi but anticipates learning the outcome.
Zelenskyy, who is seeking increased international support for Ukraine's defense, was in the United States this week coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly and met with Trump on Tuesday. NATO countries have labeled China as a "decisive enabler" of Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions.
During his U.S. trip, Zelenskyy communicated with a group of journalists via voice messages, sharing details about his meetings. He noted that Washington is advocating for a three-way meeting involving delegations from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia, with technical discussions already taking place without the leaders present. Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is awaiting a proposed date for these meetings, with American officials suggesting the United Arab Emirates as a potential location.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump discussed the possibility of such a meeting during a call earlier this month but did not provide specific details. Previous trilateral negotiations held earlier this year in Abu Dhabi and Geneva did not yield significant breakthroughs.
In a statement made in St. Petersburg, Putin criticized recent Ukrainian attacks within Russia and on Russian-held territories, asserting that while proposals for resuming talks are available, Moscow will carefully consider its response based on national interests.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to U.S. senators and Congress members for their bipartisan support in passing a sanctions bill aimed at Russia last month, which Trump signed into law last week but has not yet enacted. He emphasized the importance of sanctions in compelling Putin to negotiate, stating that the power to pressure Russia lies with the U.S. president.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that Trump confirmed a decision to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense systems, which are crucial for countering Russian missile threats. However, the availability of these systems has been limited since the onset of the conflict in Iran on February 28.
Both Ukraine and Russia are significant global suppliers of agricultural products, but wartime attacks on shipping routes in the Black Sea have raised concerns about potential shortages. Zelenskyy held discussions with leaders from India, Turkey, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern nations regarding the need for secure shipping routes and indicated that these leaders would also communicate with Russian officials.
Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's desire for a ceasefire in the Black Sea to facilitate the resumption of full deliveries. He also spoke with the heads of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission about addressing Ukraine's budget deficit, which is strained by wartime expenses and production declines. The EU plans to extend financial aid, and the IMF will continue its support programs.
Zelenskyy noted that a significant portion of the funding gap relates to weapons purchases and suggested that future financing could involve technology sharing and joint drone production, as Ukraine is recognized as a leader in military drones.
Recent Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine resulted in five fatalities and 11 injuries, while Russian authorities reported one death and 21 injuries due to Ukrainian strikes. Zelenskyy stated that eight Ukrainian regions were targeted, including a strike on an office block in Kyiv that killed four people. Additionally, a 14-year-old boy was killed in a strike on a residential building, with at least seven others injured. Russia's Defense Ministry reported that its forces targeted a missile engine depot near Kyiv.
In response, Ukraine conducted strikes on two Russian refineries as part of its ongoing efforts to impact Russia's economy. Unconfirmed Russian media reports indicated that Ukrainian drones also targeted a military electronics plant and a synthetic rubber producer.