Speaking yesterday to journalists in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave details about his discussions with US President Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian President said that he resisted pressure from the US President to halt attacks on Russian energy and oil infrastructure, saying that Ukraine will keep responding to Russia’s attacks and that if Ukraine did not respond, Russia would have already taken over Ukraine.
President Zelensky also gave details about the production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine by US companies and said discussions are producing results, with Raytheon willing to provide a licence for production, but added that the process would take up to a year.
Ukraine still faces a large shortfall of missile interceptors for next winter, while Russia recently acquired a stock of North Korean ballistic missiles. Ukraine faces the prospect of a wave of ballistic missile attacks against its energy infrastructure during winter, like last year, which left the population without electricity during freezing temperatures.
President Zelensky also met French President Emmanuel Macron, with discussions focusing on Ukraine’s winter support package, additional SAMP/T air-defence systems and interceptor missiles. France and Ukraine are also discussing production of SAMP/T systems and missiles in Ukraine, as well as their joint FREYJA anti-ballistic missile programme.
The Ukrainian President also met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with discussions also focusing on Ukraine’s air-defence requirements and support ahead of winter. Prime Minister Burnham separately said he had pressed President Trump on the need for an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also met President Zelensky to discuss further sanctions against Russia, Ukraine’s financial needs and joint defence production. The two also discussed expanding industrial cooperation and the construction of new defence-production facilities.
President Zelensky later met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who assured him that Japan’s support for Ukraine would continue. Their discussions included energy assistance, sanctions, humanitarian support and Japanese technologies that could help strengthen Ukraine’s air defences during the winter. Zelensky invited Takaichi to visit Ukraine.
His diplomatic programme also included meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Ukraine’s finances and further sanctions against Russia, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on financing Ukraine’s budget, and a bipartisan group of US senators on sanctions and Ukraine’s need for additional ballistic missile interceptors.
Feature photo from France 24.
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