Zelensky Warns Ukraine War Could Stretch Into Winter After Talks With Trump Envoys

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the war with Russia could stretch into the winter, saying Ukraine would need additional support for its air defence systems and energy sector if the conflict continues.

Zelensky made the remarks during several hours of closed-door talks on Sunday with envoys of US President Donald Trump. The discussions focused on the ongoing war and possible ways to advance peace negotiations.

Assessing the current situation, Zelensky said the conflict could continue into the winter. If that happens, he stressed the importance of strengthening Ukraine's air defence capabilities and supporting its energy infrastructure.

At the same time, Zelensky said he wanted a just and lasting peace that would prevent Russia from launching another offensive against Ukraine in the future.

Trump's envoys, meanwhile, expressed optimism about the prospects for a diplomatic solution. One of the US representatives said they were confident that a good outcome could eventually be achieved. He also said there had been “a lot of progress” during talks with Russian representatives in Moscow on Saturday.

Speaking about the Moscow discussions, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner said the US delegation had revisited proposals that had previously failed to produce results. They also discussed what would be required to establish a lasting peace.

Kushner described the talks as very productive, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin raised many questions and the US side also put forward a number of questions of its own.

Steve Witkoff, another Trump envoy, said the US team had first met with Putin because it was important to understand the Russian president's position and thinking.

Following Sunday's meeting, Zelensky said another trilateral meeting involving officials from Ukraine, Europe and the United States could take place soon. The sides are expected to work together on advancing the peace process.