US President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York tomorrow to push efforts to secure de-escalation between Russia and Ukraine, with the two leaders expected to discuss steps towards reducing hostilities and reviving negotiations. The meeting is being organised on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Ukrainian chief negotiator Rustem Umerov, who also heads Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, has been working with White House envoys to arrange the talks.

The planned meeting follows a phone conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy, during which the two leaders agreed to meet in New York. Zelenskyy described the conversation as important and said it had generated diplomatic momentum. Trump repeatedly urged Zelenskyy during the call to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, with the attacks being linked to disruptions in fuel supplies and higher diesel prices. A source familiar with the conversation told Axios that “the word diesel came up many times during the call.”

The issue of energy infrastructure has emerged as an important element of US efforts to reduce tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. Zelenskyy has previously indicated that Ukraine could halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Russia provides firm guarantees against attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure.