U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in an interview carried by the outlet Clash Report and cited by RBC-Ukraine, called the Russia–Ukraine war "the most difficult international conflict to resolve," while expressing confidence that its settlement is only a matter of time. In his words, the American side expects positive shifts following the upcoming talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which are expected to take place within the next few days as part of a high-level diplomatic track.
Vance's statement: from acknowledging the conflict's complexity to confidence in the outcome
Vance did not hide that the war in Ukraine represents the most challenging task in the modern system of international relations. At the same time, he emphasized that the White House is committed to continuing active efforts to end the fighting. "Do I think this will ultimately be resolved? Yes, it's only a matter of time," the vice president concluded. He also noted that he prefers to work as part of the president's team, who, in his assessment, is energetically trying to resolve the crisis, and expressed confidence in the ultimate success of Washington's diplomatic efforts.
The expected Trump–Zelensky meeting: timing and format
A key element of Vance's statement was a specific timeframe: in his words, Donald Trump will meet with Volodymyr Zelensky "either tomorrow or the day after" relative to the moment of his remarks. Given that the statement was published on September 21, 2026 (citing rbc.ru), this refers to a meeting expected on September 22–23, 2026. Vance directly linked this summit to achieving "certain good progress" in the settlement. Earlier, Zelensky had confirmed that Ukraine and the United States are preparing for a meeting at the highest level in New York, which could have a significant impact on the further diplomatic track.
Kyiv's position: readiness for de-escalation in exchange for reciprocal steps by Moscow
Against the backdrop of the New York summit announcement, the Ukrainian side also outlined specific de-escalation steps. On September 22, 2026, Zelensky, in response to a message from Trump, stated that Ukraine is ready to cease strikes on Russian oil refineries in the event of reciprocal steps by the Kremlin aimed at reducing the intensity of the fighting. Thus, Kyiv formulates a condition: a unilateral halt to attacks on Russian fuel infrastructure is possible only with mirror guarantees from Moscow. According to available information, the parties are working through possible de-escalation and security steps.
Context: why New York and why now
The choice of New York as the venue for high-level talks fits logically into the calendar of the September session of the UN General Assembly, which traditionally brings world leaders together in one city. This creates an additional diplomatic backdrop and an opportunity for multilateral consultations alongside the bilateral Washington–Kyiv track. For the United States, a meeting in New York also allows demonstrating to NATO allies and partners in the "Group of Friends for Peace" Washington's active stance in seeking a way out of the protracted conflict, which, in Vance's assessment, remains the most difficult in the world but, in his own words, is not unresolvable.
