Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the U.S. is working behind the scenes to ease the Russia-Ukraine conflict before winter sets in, while also trying to jumpstart broader peace negotiations.
In an interview with Axios on Monday, Zelenskyy suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be banking on another brutal winter to weaken Ukraine. But he also floated an intriguing possibility: Putin probably doesn't want to rock the boat with President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections. "My feeling [is] that Putin needs Trump," Zelenskyy said, adding that "He doesn't want ... to upset him."
That dynamic could give the Trump administration some leverage. Zelenskyy thinks the U.S. could pressure Putin into de-escalating the war, even if the Russian leader isn't exactly eager to do so. He also agreed that Putin might be looking to hand Trump a diplomatic victory before the U.S. elections—a win that would look good for both leaders.
Zelenskyy also revealed that he met with Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in Kyiv on Sunday. Their message? "The Russians are ready to negotiate."
The main goal of that visit, according to Zelenskyy, was to "unblock" the diplomatic process and bring fresh ideas to the table. He didn't spill all the details, but he did mention discussions about possible de-escalation measures from both sides—covering energy facilities, grain shipments, electricity infrastructure, and oil and gas exports.
Ukraine Secures UK Air Defense Aid
Zelenskyy also told Axios that the U.S. supports a separate winter aid package for Ukraine, which would include air defense, energy assistance, and LNG supplies, alongside broader steps to de-escalate the conflict.
And on Tuesday, the UK stepped up with a pledge of £100 million (about $135.16 million) to bolster Ukraine's air defenses before winter, according to the Guardian. That funding will go toward Patriot missiles and other military equipment. It comes at a critical time, as Ukraine faces shortages of interceptors while Russia continues attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Gain Momentum
On Monday, Witkoff said Washington had made "substantive progress" in efforts to revive Russia-Ukraine peace talks after meetings in Moscow and Kyiv. He pointed to movement toward new trilateral talks involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, though Moscow cautioned that it's still too early to set dates.
In a notable step, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a three-day "no-shoot policy" to facilitate peace discussions, according to Witkoff. In Kyiv, national security advisers from Britain, Germany, and France joined the delegations, working together on potential next steps to advance negotiations and find a path forward in the conflict.
Last week, Putin said a peace deal with Ukraine is possible, noting U.S. and Chinese support for negotiations. Trump, for his part, said he would meet Putin only when Moscow is ready for peace.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha suggested there's a "new dynamic" in the peace initiatives, though he didn't offer specifics.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by MarketDash editors.
