Ukraine: Zelensky seeks energy truce before winter and demands Patriots

Before the meeting, the Ukrainian leader indicated that he would present several de-escalation proposals to the American president. During a meeting with U.S. senators, he emphasized the need for ballistic missile interceptors and the challenges Ukraine may face during the cold season.

The Ukrainian presidency asserts that, at this stage, Patriot systems remain irreplaceable for countering certain ballistic threats. Therefore, Zelensky will attempt to link the discussion of an energy truce to an immediate strengthening of protection for cities and critical infrastructure.

The idea of halting strikes on the energy sector was also discussed on Monday between Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump. The French president stated that he advocated for faster assistance to Ukraine regarding interceptors and for a de-escalation mechanism between Moscow and Kyiv.

The energy issue has become central in discussions with Washington. Donald Trump recently urged Kyiv to cease its strikes against Russian refineries, which he associates with tensions in fuel markets. This pressure comes as a global diesel shortage could extend until 2027.

On the ground, strikes have not ceased ahead of the New York meeting. Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone and missile attacks on Tuesday, while Moscow has not announced any commitment to suspend its air campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure.