At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump delivered a direct message to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the conflict in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters upon arrival at UN headquarters, Trump stated his core message: "settle the war."
Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with 11 world leaders during the assembly, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, according to his official UN schedule. Later on Tuesday, he will participate in a formal signing ceremony regarding Greenland with Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
What did Trump say in his UN address?
During his General Assembly speech, Trump emphasised his commitment to ending what he described as the "disastrous war between Russia and Ukraine." He stated:
"It's time to stop the killing."Trump also noted that he has signed a new sanctions law and indicated he would deploy it if necessary to pressure Moscow.
On the broader conflict, Trump claimed he is
"working closely with the leader of Russia and Ukraine"to resolve the war, adding that
"it's going to happen, I think, more quickly than people understand."He paid tribute to the First Lady's efforts in securing the return of displaced Ukrainian and Russian children to their families.
Notably, Trump's speech contained limited direct criticism of European allies, a development likely welcomed by many EU leaders attending or observing remotely. His remarks on European security, NATO expansion, and efforts to end Russian aggression were generally viewed as constructive, though they lacked substantial operational detail.
What is Trump's position on NATO?
Trump offered pointed praise for NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, stating that the alliance is
"growing stronger than ever before"as member states increase defence spending. This measured tone contrasted with his historically contentious relationship with the organisation, which he has previously criticised over burden-sharing concerns.
What is the Greenland military agreement?
Trump announced an "unprecedented agreement" with the Kingdom of Denmark regarding Greenland, describing it as
"an incredible, beautiful country."The deal, to be formally signed shortly after his UN speech, grants the United States what Trump characterised as permanent control over security matters on the territory.
According to Trump, the arrangement ensures that
"no US adversary will ever be permitted to establish a military presence in Greenland any more, or make sensitive investments there without our express written approval."He announced plans to construct two "very major" military bases on the island. The agreement is described as allowing a larger U.S. military presence on the island, strengthening American strategic positioning in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions.
Trump framed the expansion of American presence in the Arctic as beneficial not only to the United States but also to Europe, stating:
"By expanding America's footprint in the Arctic and North Atlantic, this deal also protects Europe in addition to America and greatly protects them."
What did Trump say about artificial intelligence?
Trump dismissed warnings about artificial intelligence as "a hoax," attributing such concerns to the same voices he associates with previous claims he labels as false. He announced his intention to rebrand artificial intelligence as "super intelligence," declaring that
"whoever wins SI, wins."
He emphasised America's current technological lead, stating:
"We're leading now over China by a lot, and everyone else, and we're going to keep it that way."Trump pledged not to restrict AI development, framing technological advancement as essential to American competitiveness.
What happened with EU sanctions on Russian billionaires?
The European Union reached a compromise on its Russia sanctions regime, agreeing to remove two Russian billionaires—Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman—from its sanctions list while extending restrictions on approximately 3,000 individuals and entities linked to Russia for an extended period. The EU's sanctions rollover would keep restrictions on about 3,000 Russia-linked individuals and entities in place for three years, rather than the usual six- or 12-month renewals.
Latvia, which had lodged a last-minute objection to the compromise, ultimately chose to abstain on the delistings rather than block the agreement, according to diplomats. This decision came as an end-of-day deadline approached on Tuesday, 22 September. Without an agreement, sanctions on nearly 3,000 people and entities accused of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine would have expired at midnight.
France had called for Usmanov's removal on "national security" grounds, reportedly linked to a prisoner exchange arrangement involving French nationals and Azerbaijan. Luxembourg subsequently requested the same treatment for Fridman, a Russian-Israeli businessman who is pursuing a €16 billion lawsuit against the Grand Duchy for freezing his assets.
The EU sanctions regime under discussion involves a travel ban to the bloc and asset freezes in the EU. The sanctions on both men were first imposed in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
How did Ukraine respond to the sanctions decision?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly backed Latvia's opposition to the delistings, taking to social media to express gratitude for the Baltic nation's stance. In his statement, Zelenskiy argued that
"every crime against peaceful Ukrainians has a name. And as long as this war continues, these names must be on the sanctions lists."
Zelenskiy called for
"timely and unconditional rollover of individual sanctions, until Moscow engages in serious peace negotiations and takes concrete steps to end its war against Ukraine."He emphasised that maintaining EU unity on sanctions was essential, stating:
"Every Ukrainian family is counting on EU unity and solidarity."
Who is absent from the UN assembly?
Germany's Friedrich Merz, the country's chancellor, is notably absent from the UN General Assembly this week. Merz cancelled his planned trip to New York to address the assembly, anticipating the need to manage domestic political challenges. His conservative party suffered significant losses in two state elections over the weekend, compounding difficulties he has faced during his 16 months in office.
Germany will be represented at the assembly by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is scheduled to speak later in the week. Merz's absence underscores the mounting pressures facing his government as it navigates both international commitments and domestic political turbulence.
What other developments occurred?
A United States F-16 fighter jet crashed near Spangdahlem air base in western Germany, with one person injured in the incident. Local residents reported observing a large plume of black smoke in the area. The specific aircraft involved in the crash has not been officially confirmed.
Trump concluded his UN address on an optimistic note, calling on world leaders to
"reject the voices who would have us give in to fear and doubt,"and instead pursue
"bold action"to
"make this world far safer and a far better place."
What happens next?
Trump's immediate schedule includes his bilateral meeting with Zelenskiy on Tuesday, followed by the formal Greenland signing ceremony with Danish and Greenlandic leaders the same day. The EU sanctions compromise was contingent on no member state objecting within hours of the agreement, with a formal approval window determining whether the delistings proceed as planned. The midnight deadline on Tuesday represented the final moment for EU member states to reach consensus before existing sanctions would have expired.
