UNITED NATIONS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged President Trump on Tuesday to use the tariff authorities in late-Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill and insisted that he’s “ready” to meet with Vladimir Putin in an effort to bring about an end to the war.
“I’m very thankful to the Americans,” Zelensky said of the sanctions legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the president last week.
“I hope the president will use this instrument,” the Ukrainian leader told reporters, after meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The new law allows the Trump administration to impose targeted tariffs of up to 100% on the largest importers of Russian crude oil or natural gas.
In his speech at the gathering of diplomats and world leaders, Trump indicated that he’s open to using his new tariff powers – which could hit China and India hard – “if necessary.”
“Last week, in honor of Senator Lindsey Graham, I signed a powerful new law passed by Congress, providing me with enormous new tariff authorities,” Trump said in his UN speech. “And, if necessary, I will have to use them.”
Zelensky also declared that he’s “ready” to meet with Putin face-to-face as part of potential US-led trilateral discussions with Russia.
“I’m ready … I’m ready anytime,” he said, adding that the three sides “need to move as quick as possible.”
Zelensky said his willingness to sit down with the Russian strongman, who has previously rebuffed overtures for a face-to-face meeting – should serve as a signal that he’s ready to negotiate an end to the bloody conflict.
“You’re ready to speak or not? You’re ready to sit and negotiate? This is a signal. And you hear from Ukraine, ‘Yes’ … and we don’t hear from Russia,” he told reporters.
Trump’s meeting with Zelensky – one of several the president is taking on the sidelines of the UN summit – focused on two points: an energy cease-fire with Russia and US-supplied Patriot defense systems for “winter” warfare.
Over the summer, Ukrainian forces pummeled Russian diesel production facilities with drone strikes, prompting the Kremlin to stop exporting the fuel, which has sent prices sky-rocketing.
“I’m not sure that Russia is ready, but we spoke about an energy cease-fire,” Zelensky said.
“If they don’t want us to attack their diesel and refineries, we are ready – if they will not attack our energy system, electricity, heating system and water supply,” he added.
“I don’t know the position of Russia,” Zelensky cautioned, noting the Trump administration will share the proposed cease-fire with Russia.
“God bless, the American side will find a way to bring them to any kind of negotiation,” the Ukrainian president continued, emphasizing that he’s ready for “any kind of negotiation.”
Zelensky also appeared cautiously optimistic that Trump would be able to provide Ukraine with a much-needed “winter package” of Patriot missiles.
“Nobody said no,” he said of the response to the ask.
“He wants to end the war,” Zelensky said of Trump, “He said he would do everything to help end the war.”
Ahead of the meeting, Trump told reporters that he continues to enjoy a “very good relationship” with Zelensky.
“The president and I are trying to figure out a solution, and I think it’s going to happen,” Trump said of the war. “I really do. I believe it’s going to happen. But we have a lot to talk about.”
Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will reportedly continue talks with the Ukrainian side and European officials, including national security advisers for the United Kingdom, France and Germany, on Tuesday night.
The discussion will focus on Ukrainian proposals to de-escalate with Russia, according to Axios.
