US President Donald Trump has said that he believes a deal between Ukraine and Russia is imminent, as he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
“We have a very good relationship going, the two of us,” Trump said on Tuesday.
“The president (Zelenskyy) and I are trying to figure out the solution, and I think it’s going to happen. I really do.”
Asked whether he still believed Ukraine could reclaim all its territory, Trump said he expected the two sides to reach a deal but declined to disclose details.
“We talk about it a lot, including with President (Vladimir) Putin, and I think something’s going to happen,” he said, praising Ukrainian forces as “very good fighters” and describing Ukraine’s leadership as “very capable”.
Trump also pointed to Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refining capacity, saying the strikes appeared to have seriously affected Russia’s refining operations and diesel prices.
“I think they (Putin and Zelenskyy) both want to see the war end,” Trump said. “To be honest with you, it’s time. A lot of people are being killed, and they don’t want that.”
On possible Patriot missile production in Ukraine, Trump said Washington and Kiev were discussing the issue, describing Ukraine as having “very capable production” and “very capable people”.
Zelenskyy said he hoped the war could end with Trump’s help, adding that an agreement was needed “as quick as possible before winter”.
