Black Sea Safe Passage
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy Rejects Moscow Meeting and Awaits Black Sea Safe Passage Response
Anonymous
Key Points
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During their Sept. 22 meeting in New York, Trump raised the Moscow visit proposal; people familiar with Zelenskyy’s position said the suggestion upset him.
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The United States pressed both sides to agree to a pause in attacks on each other’s energy facilities, amid a sharp rise in global diesel prices.
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Zelenskyy has called for Putin to meet him at a neutral location. The two leaders last met in person in Paris in December 2019 and have not held direct talks since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin and Trump discussed arranging an in-person meeting during a phone call earlier in the month, but that no details had been finalized.
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Zelenskyy publicly urged Beijing to help end the war in his U.N. General Assembly speech as Chinese President Xi Jinping was heading to the United States for a meeting with Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine has agreed to a framework for safe passage in the Black Sea and is awaiting Russia's response, according to Reuters. The corridor's full operation depends on Moscow ending attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, Zelenskyy told Axios. During a September 22 meeting with President Donald Trump in New York, Trump urged Zelenskyy to travel to Moscow for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin—a suggestion Zelenskyy rejected, joking he would go "on a missile" instead.
The United States is pushing a three-part framework to halt the conflict: an energy ceasefire, reopening Black Sea grain exports, and technical-level trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported. Trump has also asked Zelenskyy to seek China's help persuading Moscow toward peace. The talks represent the most concrete diplomatic push since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022, with AP confirming that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral meetings "could happen soon."
Trump Pushes Direct Moscow Meeting, Zelenskyy Pushes Back
During the September 22 meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump raised the idea of Zelenskyy traveling to Moscow to meet Putin. According to Bloomberg, the suggestion upset Zelenskyy, who has consistently rejected direct meetings on Russian soil. Zelenskyy made clear he will only meet Putin at a neutral location, noting the two leaders last met in person in Paris in December 2019 before Russia's invasion.
Trump has not given up on brokering a direct meeting. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin and Trump discussed arranging an in-person summit during a phone call earlier in the month, though Reuters reported no details have been finalized. Zelenskyy's position remains firm: he will negotiate peace, but only on equal footing and away from Russian territory.
Black Sea Framework Takes Shape as Energy Crisis Mounts
Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed restoring maritime exports and protecting Ukrainian ports during recent talks. Ukraine has agreed to a framework for safe passage in the Black Sea, WTOP reported, and is now awaiting Russia's response. The corridor would reopen agricultural supply chains disrupted since the original Black Sea Grain Initiative collapsed in 2023. However, Russia must stop attacking Ukrainian infrastructure for full operation.
The United States is pressing both sides to pause attacks on energy facilities amid sharp rises in global diesel prices. Axios confirmed Zelenskyy told the outlet: "On the table now there is a proposition: energy ceasefire. We are ready." Zelenskyy has called for a strictly reciprocal pause, refusing unilateral restraint. He fears Russia will use any truce to regroup while continuing strikes on civilian targets outside the energy sector.
United States Proposes UAE-Based Trilateral Talks
The United States has proposed technical-level trilateral talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia, potentially in the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported. No date has been set, but Reuters confirmed that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged such talks "could happen soon." The proposal marks a significant shift toward direct engagement after months of shuttle diplomacy by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Zelenskyy confirmed via briefing that he is awaiting formal dates from the United States for the proposed talks. Teams are expected to reconvene within 10 days to confirm specifics. Zelenskyy also publicly urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to help mediate during his UN General Assembly speech on September 23, as Trump and Xi were about to meet in the United States.
Zelenskyy Seeks US Leverage Against Moscow While Staying Firm on Sovereignty
Zelenskyy asked Trump to use American influence to pressure Russia toward peace, specifically requesting that the US enlist China's help, WTOP reported. He emphasized that Ukraine's negotiating position rests on maintaining sovereignty and territorial integrity. Zelenskyy also sought US approval for Ukraine to begin domestic production of Patriot air defense systems, Reuters confirmed, potentially reducing long-term dependence on Western arms supplies.
Throughout negotiations, Zelenskyy has stressed that any pause in hostilities must be reciprocal and verifiable. He remains skeptical of Russia's intentions, fearing Moscow could exploit any ceasefire to reposition forces. Ukrainian officials have briefed European allies—France, the UK, and Germany—on all US-Russian discussions, requesting feedback within a 10-day window to ensure Western solidarity.
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