Zelensky hopes Middle East agreement can lead to Ukraine peace with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct 16, on the eve of talks with US President Donald Trump, that momentum in the Middle East peace process would help end his country’s more than 3-½-year-old war with Russia.

"We have a meeting planned with President Trump tomorrow and we are counting on the impulse to curb terror and war which worked in the Middle East to help end Russia's war against Ukraine," Mr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

"The language of strength and justice is sure to work with respect to Russia as well."

Mr Zelensky did not refer directly to Mr Trump's agreement, in a telephone conversation on Oct 16,

to hold new talks

with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But he said it was clear that "

upon hearing of Tomahawks

, Moscow is in a hurry to renew dialogue", a reference to Mr Trump's suggestion that he might provide Kyiv with those missiles.

Mr Zelensky said he was meeting with representatives of defence companies, "manufacturers of powerful weapons that can definitely strengthen our defences", including air defence systems to guard against attacks on energy infrastructure. REUTERS