Trump is expected to press Zelensky to accept a Russia-Ukraine energy truce at their NYC meeting

Trump is expected to press Zelensky at their New York meeting to accept a Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire, days after prematurely announcing on Sept. 14 that Moscow and Kyiv had already agreed to one. Sources told the Financial Times the announcement was premature and that Putin has no incentive to spare Ukraine's grid before winter, since it functions as leverage.

Since that announcement, Russia has struck energy infrastructure across Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Odesa regions, killing a utility worker and cutting power to seven regions after an overnight strike Sept. 22. Ukraine has meanwhile hit Russian refineries at Syzran, Yaroslavl, Moscow, and Kuybyshev, prompting Trump to say Russia has 'lost control' of its diesel industry and that 'the whole World suffers.'

Zelensky says the two sides aren't even discussing the same problem: Moscow wants oil-and-gas trade protected, Kyiv wants electricity kept on for people's homes. The Kremlin called an energy truce 'a good idea' while adding that lifting sanctions and protecting tanker shipments matter more, which is Kremlin-speak for 'no.'

The full dispatch is available from the source below.