In the wake of his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for stronger pressure on Russia from both China and the United States to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Zelensky argued that Beijing has the leverage to compel Moscow to cease its invasion—“without China, Putin’s Russia is nothing”—but that China too often remains silent rather than acting for peace.
Speaking to Fox News following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky said the US likewise has significant influence. “Moscow fears America and always pays attention to it,” he said, urging Washington to use its power to pressure Russia.
Zelensky welcomed what he described as a “big shift” in Trump’s stance. Trump, shortly after their meeting, declared that Ukraine could win back all its territory lost since the 2022 Russian invasion—a markedly more assertive position than his previous focus on negotiated outcomes.
His comments highlight growing expectations in Kyiv that Beijing should play a more active diplomatic role, and that US support must remain strong, not just in rhetorical terms but also in tangible forms of pressure on Moscow. Analysts note that China continues past practices of purchasing Russian energy and maintaining economic ties, which Zelensky and other Western leaders argue contribute to sustaining Russia’s war effort.
While Zelensky emphasized the diplomatic and moral weight of US and Chinese engagement, he also warned that war fatigue and shifting global alliances make the window for peace narrower. He urged all international actors to raise the stakes for Russia—and for China, in particular—to play its part.
Image: Evan Vucci / AP / Shutterstock
