Zelensky says Putin refuses peace, vows to keep negotiating at UN
During his UN General Assembly speech, Zelensky warned that Putin has no intention of ending the war and is expanding it into Europe.
At the United Nations General Assembly, President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Vladimir Putin is determined to keep fighting and even extend the war into Europe. He referenced a recent trip by American officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv, who reported that Moscow signaled readiness for negotiations, a claim Zelensky doubted. In a separate meeting in New York, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Moscow is not prepared to negotiate.
Zelensky emphasized Ukraine's willingness to accept any agreement that halts Russian strikes, supports grain exports, and even involves direct talks with Putin, while the Ukrainian side continues defensive operations and humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, Putin ordered two heavy bombings within a 24-hour period, underscoring his relentless campaign.
How this story developed
- Aug 14 Russia claims strikes on Ukrainian rail hub and vessels as drones hit Russian ports
- Sep 21 Donald Trump asked Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, linking them to rising diesel prices worldwide.
- Sep 21 Russian drones struck Zaporizhzhia, injuring five and causing fires, while a woman was killed in the Kharkiv region and a mother with two children died in the Kyiv region.
- Sep 21 Trump’s appeal to cease refinery attacks was made ahead of his scheduled meeting with Zelensky at the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 23 Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will invite President Vladimir Putin to the December G20 summit in Miami, while President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Russia to accept a maritime cease-fire proposal for the Black Sea.
- Sep 23 Russia fired multiple waves of ballistic missiles at Kiev overnight, causing at least two deaths and six injuries.
- Sep 23 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the invitation to Putin for the December G20 summit in Miami.
- Sep 24 In New York, Zelensky said Ukraine is pursuing an energy cease-fire, a maritime grain cease-fire and a U.S.-backed trilateral negotiation format.
- Sep 24 The wave of strikes expanded beyond Kyiv to hit Odessa and the Kharkiv region, raising the death toll.
- Sep 24 The Russian attack involved 282 drones and several missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force.
- Sep 24 Zelensky offered a reciprocal pause, linking Ukraine's halt on Russian refinery strikes to Russia ending attacks on Ukrainian energy sites.
- Sep 25 The United States moved from earlier cease‑fire proposals to suggesting a UAE‑hosted technical trilateral meeting.
- Sep 25 Mayor Vitali Klitschko updated the death toll to seven and the injury count to 46.
- Sep 26 A bipartisan group of 14 senators sent a letter urging President Trump to withdraw Putin’s G20 invitation.
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