Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky says Trump gave no ‘concrete answer’ on key weapon export

Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine has not received a “concrete answer” from the US on whether it will receive more Patriot missile interceptors, which are vital for defending against Russia ’s now daily aerial attacks.

The Ukrainian president was speaking to reporters after a much-anticipated meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly .

Asked about whether the US would take steps to ease Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot missiles, he said: “They are positive to help us, but I didn’t get the very concrete answer.”

Zelensky also said he hoped Russia ’s war with his country would end “before winter” and that US president Donald Trump would help Kyiv to bring the fighting to an end.

The New York Times reports that Mr Zelensky said during a meeting with Mr Trump at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday : “I hope we will end this war, and president Trump will help us end this war.”

“I think we need to do this as quick as possible - before winter”, he added.

Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia is preparing another major attack on Ukraine, based on Ukrainian intelligence, and Kyiv is working with allies to strengthen its air defences.

He argued that this makes any discussion about easing sanctions on Russia inappropriate while Ukraine remains under daily missile and drone threats.

Reuters reported that Russia has recently changed its tactics, including using jet-powered drones that fly higher and are harder for Ukrainian air defences to intercept.

Zelensky also said Russia is making slow advances in eastern Donetsk, while Ukraine has been striking Russian targets, particularly oil facilities, deep inside Russia.

During meetings in New York, Zelensky discussed ending the war with Trump, including an “energy ceasefire” with Moscow.

The EU is set to remove sanctions imposed on two Russian oligarchs, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, who were targeted after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

France pushed for Usmanov’s removal, citing “national security” concerns, while Luxembourg backed removing Fridman, who is challenging the freezing of his assets.

“Moscow is celebrating because it got what it wanted: a sense of impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among Europeans,” Ukraine’s foreign minister Andriy Sybiha said on X.