The US and Ukrainian presidents each expressed cautious optimism regarding a potential timeline for the end of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Donald Trump did not mention specific dates, but said that peace could come "sooner than people think." Volodymyr Zelenskyy went further, expressing hope that the war could end before the onset of winter.
Both shared their thoughts following their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the first day of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York on September 22.
"We are working very closely with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, and we will see this through to the end. It will happen, I think, sooner than people realize. They are already fed up," Trump said from the UN podium before his meeting with Zelenskyy.
Addressing reporters after their meeting, Zelenskyy was more specific regarding the timeframe.
"I hope we will end this war, I hope that President Trump will help us end it. I think we need to do this as soon as possible—before winter, preferably before winter," Zelenskyy said.
Trump did not directly answer whether he would invite Russian leader Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in Miami in December in an effort to push for peace with Ukraine.
Earlier, Zelenskyy challenged Putin to meet in Miami, but Trump sidestepped the question, saying a peace agreement could be reached.
"I think [Zelenskyy and Putin] will make a deal. And I don't want to say what that deal will be. We talk about it a lot, including with President Putin, and I think something will happen. But they are certainly very good fighters. They can be proud of themselves. In any case, we’ll see what happens. But these are very, very capable people with very capable leadership," Trump said.
In a social media post before the meeting, Zelenskyy said it "could change a lot" and that he and Trump had "got through a lot" during their discussions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is also expected in New York and due to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 23.
Zelenskyy also met with French President Emmanuel Macron in New York. They discussed security and Ukraine's winter support package, with Kyiv seeking additional air defense systems and missiles through EU loan funds.
Meanwhile, according to Reuters and the Financial Times, citing sources, Zelenskyy met CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland on his way to New York.
A person familiar with the meeting described it as "brief, unplanned, [and] informal," noting that both were making refueling stops, with Ratcliffe returning to the United States from Egypt.
Ratcliffe's meeting with Zelenskyy comes less than a month after the CIA chief traveled to Moscow to meet with Russia's top intelligence officials.
Russian Attack Kills 4 In Dnipro
The death toll from Russia's overnight ballistic missile strike on Dnipro on September 22 has risen to four, according to regional authorities.
Six people were injured, including a 25-year-old man who was hospitalized in serious condition. Five others sustained moderate or minor injuries. The attack also damaged industrial facilities in Kryviy Rih and Pavlohrad.
In the Ukrainian capital, a Russian overnight attack partially destroyed a five-story residential building in a Kyiv district. Four people were injured, three of whom were hospitalized.
Ukraine's Air Force said Russian forces attacked with 212 drones and missiles of various types, including ballistic and cruise missiles, overnight on September 22.
Thirteen Ukrainian regions and Kyiv came under Russian attacks, Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskiy said.
"Another massive drone and missile attack on Ukrainian cities. The Russians are deliberately targeting businesses, farms, warehouses, railways, energy infrastructure, and residential buildings," Koretskyi wrote on Telegram.
Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Refineries
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces attacked Russia's Samara region overnight on September 22, according to the regional governor, who said dozens of drones were shot down and one person was killed.
According to Telegram channels, the Kuibyshev Oil Refinery was hit, with a fire reportedly breaking out near the crude oil processing units.
Ukraine's General Staff confirmed the attack on the Kuibyshev Oil Refinery in Russia's Samara region, adding that Ukrainian forces also struck another oil refinery in Bashkortostan's capital, Ufa.
Ukrainian military said the refineries, with combined annual refining capacity of about 14.5 million tons, produce fuel used to support Russia's armed forces.
Earlier, Ukraine's General Staff stated that more than 45 percent of Russia's projected oil-refining capacity had been knocked out as a result of the attacks.
According to media reports, Trump repeatedly urged Zelenskyy to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, arguing that the strikes were contributing to higher global diesel prices.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil industry due to its War with Ukraine," adding that "the whole World suffers."
"This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended," Trump wrote.
Zelenskyy responded to Trump's post, writing, "Ukraine's energy sector, critical infrastructure, and our food exports must stop being targets for Russia, and this will lead to matching de-escalation steps on our part. Solutions are possible."
