Zelensky: Putin Doesn't Want to "Anger" Trump, May Hand Him a Diplomatic Victory

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the U.S. is working to ease the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict before winter arrives, while also seeking to restart broader peace talks.

Zelensky told Axios on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be counting on another harsh winter to weaken Ukraine. He also noted that Putin might avoid confrontation with President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections, saying: "My feeling is that Putin needs Trump," adding, "He doesn't want to... anger him."

According to Zelensky, the Trump administration could pressure Putin to de-escalate the war, even if the Russian leader is reluctant. He also agreed that Putin may seek to hand Trump a diplomatic victory before the U.S. elections.

The Ukrainian president also revealed that he met with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv on Sunday. He said their message was that "the Russians are ready to negotiate."

Zelensky stated that the main goal of the U.S. envoys' visit was to "unblock" the diplomatic process and bring fresh ideas. While he did not disclose all details, he mentioned discussions on potential de-escalation measures involving energy infrastructure, grain shipments, power facilities, and oil and gas exports.

Ukraine Receives UK Air Defense Aid

Zelensky also told Axios that the U.S. supports a separate winter aid package covering air defense, energy assistance, and LNG supplies, as well as broader measures aimed at de-escalating the conflict.

Notably, according to The Guardian, the UK pledged £100 million on Tuesday to bolster Ukraine's air defense capabilities before winter, including Patriot missiles and other military equipment. The funding comes as Ukraine faces a shortage of interceptor missiles amid Russian strikes on civilian areas and critical infrastructure.

Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Gain Momentum

Witkoff said on Monday that after meetings in Moscow and Kyiv, Washington has made "substantial progress" in restarting Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations. He indicated that talks are moving toward a new trilateral format involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, though Moscow cautioned that setting a date is still premature.

According to Witkoff, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day "ceasefire policy" to facilitate peace discussions. In Kyiv, national security advisers from the UK, Germany, and France joined the delegation to coordinate next steps and explore potential pathways to resolve the conflict.

Last week, Putin said a peace deal with Ukraine is possible and noted that the U.S. and China support the negotiations. Trump, for his part, said he would only meet with Putin once Moscow is ready for peace.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha hinted at "new momentum" in the peace initiative but declined to provide specific details.