New York, 23 September (H.S.):

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday(September 22), that Russia and Ukraine could reach an agreement to end their long-running war, as he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Trump said he believed both Moscow and Kyiv wanted the conflict to end and indicated that discussions were continuing with the leaders of both countries. He did not disclose details of any possible agreement.

“I think they’re going to make a deal,” Trump said during the meeting, adding that he had also been discussing the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump described his relationship with Zelenskyy as positive and said the two leaders were working to find a solution to the conflict. His remarks came as Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to carry out attacks despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Zelenskyy thanked Trump for what he described as personal and bipartisan support from the United States. He also said Ukraine wanted the war to end as soon as possible, preferably before winter.

Earlier on Tuesday, Zelenskyy met with a bipartisan group of US senators in New York. Discussions included possible sanctions against Russia and Ukraine’s need for additional ballistic-missile defence capabilities.

The Trump-Zelenskyy meeting took place during the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The talks came amid continued long-range attacks by both Russia and Ukraine and renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a path towards ending the war.

Although Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could eventually be reached, neither side announced a new peace agreement or disclosed specific terms following the meeting.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar