Zelensky says Putin may hand Trump a diplomatic win before US elections

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian leader Vladimir Putin could give U.S. President Donald Trump a diplomatic victory before November congressional elections, according to the American outlet Axios. Zelensky suggested a window for diplomacy may open in the weeks before winter, believing Putin needs Trump and does not want to anger him, though he stressed Putin does not seek de-escalation and that the United States could pressure Russia into it. Zelensky met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner a day after their Kremlin talks with Putin, discussing possible de-escalation involving energy infrastructure, grain, electricity, and oil and gas, while adding that Moscow hopes a brutal winter offensive will break Kyiv's resistance.