Trump and Zelenskyy Agree to Meet at UN General Assembly

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have agreed to meet in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, reversing earlier reports that the meeting was not on the official U.S. schedule. Zelenskyy stated the encounter "could change a lot" as he seeks to prioritize a "peace track" and request advanced American anti-ballistic missile defense systems to protect Ukrainian infrastructure before winter.

Trump's broader UNGA itinerary includes a speech focusing on global security, a 20-point peace plan for Gaza, and efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez. Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping will skip the assembly to hold one-on-one talks with Trump in Washington.

The gathering occurs amid financial tension, as the United States paid $725 million this week to maintain its vote while still owing over a billion dollars to the UN. Trump has also clashed with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over artificial intelligence; while Guterres advocates for global guardrails to prevent a "gigantic disaster," Trump has dismissed such risks as a "hoax" and a "sick conspiracy."