Zelensky expects to meet Trump at the end of the month in New York

“ Nat the end of September, we will have the opportunity to meet, I believe, with the American team in New York,” Zelensky said at a press conference in Canada, saying that he was referring to “a meeting with President Trump.”.

In the framework of Zelensky's visit to Canada, one of Kyiv's close allies, the two countries have today strengthened military, industrial and energy cooperation with new agreements exceeding two billion Canadian dollars (EUR 1.25 billion), while Otava announced that he is preparing a new package of sanctions against Russia.

At a press conference in Calgary, the first stop of the visit of Ukrainian leader Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed that pressure on Moscow should continue while seeking ways to reduce hostilities.

“ We are developing a new package of sanctions,” said Carney, who specified that Canada intends to reach the Russian ballistic missile production chain, the so-called ‘ghost fleet’ used to circumvent international restrictions and financial services linked to Moscow.

Canada, he added, will not wait for the outcome of any negotiations to increase its pressure on Russian leadership.

Zelensky indicated for his side that he expects diplomatic progress by the end of September, although he warned that Russia usually intensifys its attacks when it detects contacts between Kyiv and his allies.

“ This is the only way to stop the war. There is no other”, he noted, on the combination of negotiations and pressure on Moscow.

The Ukrainian President also pointed out the possibility of reaching partial agreements to reduce attacks on energy infrastructure and ensure the transport of agricultural products through the Black Sea.

Of the new commitments with Canada, Zelensky needed that more than one billion Canadian dollars (about EUR 622 million) are intended for defense, with a focus on interceptors for Patriot systems, F-16 fighter ammunition and drone production.

The Canadian government announced some 350 million Canadian dollars (218 million euros) for air defence interceptors and nearly 435 million Canadian dollars (270 million euros) in new loan guarantees to strengthen Ukraine's energy security before winter.

One of the main themes of cooperation will be the joint production of drones and anti-drone systems.

Zelensky also announced that he expects Canada to participate in the Ukrainian Freyja project, which aims to develop a new ballistic missile system, from which Kyiv hopes to get the first practical results in the coming months.

The two leaders also signed the 100-year Partnership Declaration, expressing their intention to raise the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership focused on defence, security, reconstruction and economic cooperation.

Since 2022, Canada has allocated more than 26 billion Canadian dollars (EUR 16 billion) in support of Ukraine.

Zelensky's journey takes place a few days after the visit to Kyiv and Moscow by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, envoys from the United States, a sponsor of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, which have been stalled since February.

The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that during a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, held the day before, the American leader asked for a quick end to the conflict.

In turn, Washington’s chief of diplomacy, Marco Rubio, described the negotiations held last weekend by White House envoys as “substantial”, although Moscow and Kyiv remain uncompromising in their demands.

Rubio also stated that guidelines could be drawn up to advance and resume negotiations in the coming weeks, an allegation to which the Kremlin replied on Wednesday, stating that the roadmap mentioned by the Secretary of State is only a proposal, but which supports the possibility of a tripartite meeting with Ukraine.

After more than four years of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the parties remain divided over the future of the territories occupied by the Moscow forces, as well as over security guarantees to Kyiv to prevent further aggression from the neighbouring country.