US President Donald Trump is anticipated to advocate for a ceasefire targeting energy infrastructure when he meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York this week. The meeting will occur alongside the United Nations General Assembly, amid an escalation in Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s energy facilities.
Over the past weekend, Ukrainian forces launched a significant attack in the Moscow region, reportedly hitting a major oil refinery and resulting in three fatalities. Trump has expressed concerns that these attacks on Russian refineries are exacerbating global energy shortages and has called for an end to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, citing worldwide energy supply disruptions.
Zelenskyy has stated that negotiations are ongoing, with discussions focusing on measures to reduce tensions. He emphasized the need for Ukraine’s energy facilities and critical infrastructure to be protected from Russian attacks, suggesting that Kyiv is open to reciprocal de-escalation efforts.
Previously, Trump had urged Zelenskyy to refrain from targeting Russian diesel and fuel infrastructure, arguing that such actions contribute to shortages. This topic was also addressed in a recent phone call between the two leaders.
While Trump announced a prior agreement between Russia and Ukraine for an energy ceasefire, no formal accord has been finalized, and Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities have persisted. Trump is expected to deliver an address at the UN General Assembly and engage in several meetings concerning the global energy situation and efforts to resolve ongoing conflicts.