Zelensky: no written deal on peace yet, conditions set for energy ceasefire with Russia
Speaking in New York, President Zelensky said there is no document yet from the US–Ukraine talks, only an agreement not to discuss them publicly until Russia responds. He said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are taking several weeks for further talks with Russia and partners, and outlined that Ukraine is ready to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia stops attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, food exports and the energy sector.
Key points
- Zelensky said in New York that he had seen no written outcomes from the US–Ukraine talks, only an agreement not to discuss them publicly pending feedback from Russia.
- Witkoff and Kushner are taking several weeks for further talks with Russia and partners on possible formats for ending the war.
- A Ukrainian–US negotiating-group meeting took place in New York following the Trump–Zelensky meeting.
- Ukraine is ready to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia halts attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, food exports and the energy sector.
- Zelensky described a potential trilateral meeting in December at the G20 in Miami as one of the best opportunities offered by the American side.
- On 20 September Trump pressed Ukraine by phone to halt refinery strikes, citing effects on the world fuel market; on 23 September Rubio said both sides expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy.
Why it matters
The US–Ukraine track is at a stage where no paper exists and details are deliberately being kept private pending Russian feedback, which limits independent verification. Zelensky has tied any halt to strikes on Russian oil refineries to reciprocal Russian restraint, while Trump has publicly pressed Ukraine to stop the strikes on global fuel-market grounds. A possible trilateral at December's G20 in Miami is being framed by Kyiv as one of the best opportunities on the table.
What happened
In New York, following a meeting between Presidents Trump and Zelensky, the Ukrainian and US negotiating groups met to go through the issues raised in the leaders' conversation. Zelensky said no written outcomes had emerged and that the parties had agreed not to discuss the talks publicly until there is feedback from Russia. He said US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are taking several weeks for further negotiations with Russia and partners on possible formats for ending the war, noting that some details had also been discussed during their earlier visit to Kyiv. Zelensky set out Ukraine's readiness to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia stops attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, food exports and the energy sector, and described a potential trilateral meeting in December at the G20 in Miami as one of the best opportunities offered by the American side. The talks follow Trump's 20 September phone call pressing Ukraine to stop refinery strikes, his 21 September comment that Russia had effectively lost control of its diesel industry because of those strikes, Zelensky's 22 September confirmation in New York of readiness for any format of reciprocal energy ceasefire, and Rubio's 23 September statement that both sides had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both supplied sources are Ukrainian media outlets that centre Zelensky's statements. They foreground the agreement to keep negotiation details private pending Russian feedback, presenting the process as ongoing but inconclusive, and emphasize Ukraine's reciprocity condition for halting strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Where reporting differs
Sources frame Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil infrastructure differently: Zelensky presents a halt as conditional on Russian reciprocity, while Trump cited negative effects on the world fuel market and claimed Russia had lost control of its diesel industry because of the strikes.
Background
On 20 September, Trump pressed Ukraine during a phone call to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries, citing effects on the global fuel market. On 21 September, Trump said Russia's diesel industry had effectively lost control because of Ukrainian strikes and that the war 'must be stopped.' On 22 September in New York, Zelensky confirmed readiness for any format of energy ceasefire with Russia on a reciprocal basis. On 23 September, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Ukraine and Russia had expressed interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy.