Zelenskyy expects Trump meeting in late September as Kyiv pushes for air defence and new talks
Zelenskyy Expects Late-September Trump Meeting
Poinews.com – As Russian drones tore through a television broadcasting facility in central Kyiv on Tuesday — injuring at least five people, including journalists live on air — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was simultaneously pressing Washington for an urgently needed winter air-defence package. The strike sharpened the stakes of what Zelenskyy expects Trump meeting in late September to resolve: a concrete delivery of Patriot-class interceptors before the coldest months arrive.
Winter Air-Defence as a Survival Question
Zelenskyy briefed reporters through the presidential WhatsApp channel, confirming that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had spent the weekend in Kyiv assessing the country's interceptor shortfall. He framed the upcoming summit not as a diplomatic formality but as a question of whether Ukraine can survive the winter without adequate anti-ballistic missile coverage.
"I am counting on a meeting… with President Trump, raising this issue and, God willing, we will be a result."
The "winter package" centres on Patriot-class systems and other interceptors capable of countering the long-range cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons Russia has launched in growing salvos since early 2024. Zelenskyy stressed that Kyiv had laid out, in granular detail, both the quantity required and the delivery timeline.
"We talked with Witkoff and Kushner about the shortage that we have… Until we have this result, we need ballistic missile packages from the Americans. They heard in detail what we need and when we need it."
Trilateral Negotiations Take Shape
Beyond the weapons question, the Ukrainian president signalled movement toward a new trilateral format involving Washington and Moscow. He declined to name dates or venues, noting that Kyiv and Washington agreed to finalise internal preparations before any public announcement.
"We are also moving, in my view, towards a trilateral format. Here I cannot disclose all the details. We agreed with the American side: let us prepare all of this between ourselves first and then communicate it to the public."
Locations floated for such a summit include the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and Turkey, with several other countries reportedly offering to host. Prospective discussions with Moscow could encompass energy infrastructure, grain-export corridors, humanitarian matters, and prisoner-of-war exchanges — areas where Zelenskyy insisted the goal must be a concrete outcome rather than another round of statements.
"We need not only to discuss (these issues), but to have a concrete result."
Europe Remains at the Table
Zelenskyy took care to clarify that a renewed US-led diplomatic track would not sideline European partners. He noted that European diplomats maintain their own direct channels with Moscow and that Washington is far from the sole conduit between Kyiv and the Kremlin.
"Let's be honest: they are thinking about the security of all of Europe. That is why it is clear that they must be at the table in any format of negotiations."
He pointed to Ukraine's prospective EU accession, post-war reconstruction financing, and the architecture of future security guarantees as domains where European involvement would remain indispensable. European representatives had already participated alongside the US delegation in the most recent Kyiv round and would continue to feature in every future configuration.
Domestic Patriot Production and UK Funding
Running parallel to the diplomatic track, Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv is in active negotiations with the Trump administration over licences allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles domestically. Talks are proceeding at both the government and manufacturer levels; the president said Trump had responded positively, though Kyiv wishes to accelerate the timeline. A domestic production line would reduce structural dependence on periodic US replenishment shipments.
On the same day, London announced a €116 million contribution to Ukraine's winter air-defence programme, reinforcing the European commitment Zelenskyy had just outlined.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Zelenskyy–Trump meeting expected? President Zelenskyy has indicated the summit is anticipated by the end of September 2026. No exact date or venue has been confirmed.
What is the "winter package"? It refers to a proposed US delivery of Patriot-class anti-ballistic missile interceptors and related systems, sized to cover Ukraine's air space through the winter months. Kyiv has specified quantities and delivery deadlines to Washington.
Will European countries participate in any trilateral talks? Zelenskyy stated explicitly that European partners must be present "in any format of negotiations" and that they already sit alongside US delegations in current rounds held in Kyiv.
Is Ukraine negotiating to manufacture Patriot missiles domestically? Yes. Licence talks are underway at both government and manufacturer levels. Zelenskyy said the Trump administration responded positively but urged Kyiv to move faster.