Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on U.S. President Donald Trump to enlist China’s help in ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following their meeting during the United Nations General Assembly, Zelenskyy said he urged Trump to use his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping to encourage Beijing to exert its influence over Moscow. The appeal comes as Ukraine seeks stronger international support, additional military assistance and renewed diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the war, now in its fifth year.
Zelenskyy Looks to China to Increase Pressure on Russia
Zelenskyy said Friday, September 25, that he had asked Trump to encourage Xi to use China’s relationship with Russia to help bring the conflict to an end. The Ukrainian president met Trump earlier in the week during his visit to the United States, which coincided with the annual U.N. General Assembly.
Zelenskyy said he had not yet received feedback from the White House about Trump’s discussions with Xi but expected to learn the outcome. Ukraine hopes China’s diplomatic and economic relationship with Moscow could provide another means of encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
NATO countries have previously described China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s invasion, highlighting concerns about Beijing’s support for Moscow.
Washington Pushes for a New Round of Peace Negotiations
The United States is seeking to arrange another round of negotiations involving American, Ukrainian and Russian delegations. According to Zelenskyy, Washington wants the initial discussions to take place at a technical level, without the countries’ leaders participating.
American officials have suggested the United Arab Emirates as a possible location, although Ukraine is still waiting for Washington to propose a date.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump had discussed the possibility of such a meeting during a telephone conversation earlier in September.
“As of now, I can’t give you any specifics,” Peskov said.
Representatives from the three countries previously held three rounds of negotiations earlier this year, twice in Abu Dhabi and once in Geneva. Those discussions failed to produce a significant breakthrough, leaving considerable uncertainty about the prospects for renewed talks.
Sanctions Remain a Central Part of Ukraine’s Strategy
Zelenskyy also emphasized the importance of economic sanctions during his visit to the United States. He met with American senators and members of Congress, thanking them for their bipartisan support for legislation introducing additional measures against Moscow.
Trump signed the sanctions bill into law last week, but the measures have not yet been implemented.
“The sanctions are indeed strong … all of this is now in the hands of the president of the United States. He can use this tool to pressure the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president hopes the measures will increase economic pressure on Moscow and encourage Putin to participate in meaningful negotiations.
Ukraine Secures Progress on Patriot Air Defense Systems
Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its air defenses were another important subject of Zelenskyy’s discussions with Trump. The Ukrainian president said Trump had confirmed a final decision to grant Kyiv licenses to manufacture American-designed Patriot air defense systems.
Ukraine urgently needs additional Patriot systems to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. Supplies have become increasingly limited since the war in Iran began on February 28.
Trump previously indicated in July that he would allow Ukraine to manufacture its own Patriot systems, although he subsequently appeared to reconsider the decision. Zelenskyy’s latest announcement suggests that the licensing process can now move forward.
World Leaders Seek to Restore Safe Black Sea Shipping
Beyond military assistance and peace negotiations, Zelenskyy held separate discussions with leaders from India, Turkey, Egypt and several Middle Eastern countries about restoring safe shipping routes through the Black Sea.
Ukraine and Russia are major international suppliers of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other agricultural products. Attacks on commercial vessels have disrupted shipping routes and raised concerns about food supplies, particularly in developing countries.
Zelenskyy said the leaders he met were also expected to speak with Russian officials. Ukraine wants Moscow to agree to a Black Sea ceasefire that would allow agricultural exports to resume without further disruption.
International Financial Support Becomes More Urgent
Ukraine’s financial difficulties were also on the agenda during Zelenskyy’s U.S. visit. The Ukrainian president met with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission to discuss the country’s growing budget deficit.
Years of warfare have strained Ukraine’s finances through increased military spending and reduced domestic production.
According to Zelenskyy, the European Union intends to extend its financial assistance, while the IMF will continue its existing support programs.
Much of Ukraine’s funding gap is connected to weapons purchases. Zelenskyy suggested that future financing arrangements could include technology-sharing agreements and joint drone manufacturing projects, drawing on Ukraine’s extensive experience developing military drones.
Deadly Strikes Continue as Diplomatic Efforts Intensify
Despite renewed diplomatic activity, fighting continued across Ukraine and Russia. Overnight attacks and strikes on Friday killed five people and wounded 11 in Ukraine, according to officials. Russian authorities separately reported one person killed and 21 injured in Ukrainian long-range strikes.
Zelenskyy said eight Ukrainian regions had come under attack. In Kyiv, four people were killed when an office building was struck, while a separate attack on an apartment building killed a 14-year-old boy and injured at least seven residents.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had targeted a missile engine depot near Kyiv, among other locations.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy reported that Ukrainian forces had struck two Russian oil refineries as part of their campaign against Russia’s economy. Unconfirmed Russian media reports also described drone attacks on a military electronics facility and a synthetic rubber producer.
Ukraine Awaits the Outcome of Trump’s Talks With Xi
Zelenskyy’s appeal for Chinese involvement adds another diplomatic dimension to international efforts to end Russia’s invasion. While Washington explores renewed negotiations and Kyiv seeks stronger sanctions, additional air defenses and financial assistance, Ukraine is looking to Beijing’s relationship with Moscow as a possible source of influence. The outcome of Trump’s discussions with Xi remains uncertain, and continued military attacks underscore the challenges facing efforts to secure a lasting peace.
