Zelenskyy gives details of conversation with Trump about China's influence on Putin

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked his US counterpart Donald Trump to use his talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to urge him to exert influence on Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to end the war or at least take steps towards de-escalation.

Source: Zelenskyy at a briefing in New York, as reported by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne and European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy said he had asked Trump to discuss the issue with Xi during his visit to the US.

Quote: "I said to the President, very openly, that we think if he also engages President Xi – he has influence on Putin. If we want to end this war, not just in messages, we all have to work 24/7 for this, for the people."

He also noted that possible de-escalation steps could include energy and grain.

Zelenskyy believes that such agreements could demonstrate whether Russia is genuinely ready to move towards ending the war. The Ukrainian president added that Trump had promised to convey this message to Xi Jinping.

Background:

• Xi Jinping is in the US on a state visit from 23 to 25 September at Trump's invitation – his first such visit in more than 10 years.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would try to secure an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, although he acknowledged that doing so would be difficult.

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