• Former President Trump is reportedly planning to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York next week, aiming to restart faltering peace talks.
  • The potential meeting follows months of tense rhetoric, collapsed negotiations, and a controversial U.S. policy shift that has strained relations with European allies.
  • Previous Trump-brokered efforts have failed, with Kyiv refusing to negotiate on Russian soil and Moscow rejecting terms proposed from neutral ground.

Former President Donald Trump is preparing for a potential high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, according to people familiar with the matter. The move represents Trump's latest attempt to personally broker an end to the war in Ukraine, an effort that has so far been marked by diplomatic friction and limited progress.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration is "trying to do everything possible to bring the war to an end." Recent months have seen a flurry of calls and meetings involving Trump, Zelenskyy, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, these negotiations have repeatedly collapsed, particularly after disagreements over venue and the status of Ukraine’s occupied territories. Kyiv has maintained a firm position, refusing Moscow’s invitations for direct talks in Russia and expressing openness only to negotiations on neutral ground.

The diplomatic push comes amid a dramatic shift in U.S. policy since Trump's return to office. The administration has implemented tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil, reduced some earlier sanctions on Moscow, and has publicly criticized both Ukraine and European allies for their approach to the conflict. This marks a stark departure from the previous U.S. stance of isolating Russia diplomatically and economically.

The last face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, held in the Oval Office in February 2025, ended in a highly publicized confrontation. During that encounter, Trump demanded a Ukrainian ceasefire and made contentious personal remarks about the Ukrainian leader. Shortly after, the U.S. temporarily suspended military aid to Ukraine, and a proposed ceasefire failed after Russia rejected the terms. A March 2025 survey found that a narrow majority of Americans viewed Trump's conduct during that meeting as disrespectful toward Zelenskyy.

Trump's approach has significantly strained transatlantic relations, with U.S. allies expressing strong support for Zelenskyy and deep concern over the U.S. pivot toward rapprochement with Russia. The administration further alarmed European capitals by voting against a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion, heightening fears that Europe could be left to confront Putin without U.S. backing. European officials, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, have begun discussing options to increase independent support for Ukraine, though they face significant limitations without U.S. military and economic backing.

Ukrainian officials, while wary of Trump's methods, have reiterated their willingness to negotiate under fair terms that respect the country's territorial integrity. The potential New York meeting, if it proceeds, would be a critical test of whether both sides can bridge their differences. However, experts remain skeptical that a breakthrough is imminent, given the fundamental gap between Kyiv's demand for its sovereignty to be respected and Moscow's insistence on its gains being recognized.

Attempts to reach a spokesperson for the Ukrainian delegation for comment were not immediately successful. A State Department official declined to confirm the meeting but reiterated the administration's commitment to finding a peaceful resolution.