President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukraine's readiness for an energy ceasefire with Russia following talks with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York [2][8][19]. Zelensky said Ukraine would halt strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia stopped attacks on all Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and declared himself ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin at any moment [1][19][37]. The offer came as Russian missile and drone strikes hit five Ukrainian regions — Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Odesa — targeting industrial and critical infrastructure, according to the Russian Defense Ministry [31][6][21].
Trump projected confidence that a deal was within reach, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and French President Emmanuel Macron backing an energy-infrastructure truce [4][30][33]. Trump said he believed both Ukraine and Russia wanted the war to end and that he would use new tariff authorities from a Russia sanctions bill if necessary [4][13][32]. Rubio described an energy-infrastructure ceasefire as "the ideal outcome," under which neither Ukrainian infrastructure nor Russian energy resources would be targeted [30]. Macron said France and the United States agreed to work toward a moratorium on strikes targeting energy networks and civilian infrastructure [21][33]. Trump also expressed concern that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refining capacity were driving up global diesel prices [2][16].
The Russian state dismissed partial ceasefires as temporary measures Ukraine uses to rearm [36]. RIA Novosti reported Russia's interest in eliminating the causes of the conflict rather than temporary truces [36]. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the energy ceasefire «очень хорошей идеей» (a very good idea) but conditioned it on free movement of Russian oil tankers and the lifting of Western sanctions on energy exports [38][49]. The Russian Defense Ministry stated its forces had closed the encirclement of the Ukrainian bastion of Dobropilia in Donetsk, blocking two National Guard brigades and the Skala regiment [11]. The Kremlin denied rumors of a second mobilization [11].
Ukrainian analysts and officials warned that the two sides mean opposite things by "ceasefire" [38]. Pavlo Lakyichuk, head of security programs at the Strategy XXI Center for Global Studies, said «Путин выступает за мир через капитуляцию Украины» (Putin advocates peace through capitulation of Ukraine) [38]. Volodymyr Omelchenko, director of energy programs at the Razumkov Center, said «Мы не слышали от администрации Трампа, что Россия должна прекратить обстрелы украинских гражданских объектов» (We have not heard from the Trump administration that Russia must stop shelling Ukrainian civilian targets) [38]. Zelensky warned that intelligence indicated Russia was preparing a new massive attack on Ukraine [26]. The Uzbek outlet Kun.uz, citing Financial Times sources, reported that Putin may refuse the truce to preserve winter leverage over Kyiv [49].
Overnight Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk — including Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, and Pavlohrad — killed at least three people, with other counts putting the toll at four, and cut electricity to nearly 100,000 residents, using anti-ship and ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles, and 212 drones [6][18][21]. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Oleksandr Hanzha reported three people killed and six wounded in Dnipro, where missiles, drones, and artillery damaged business and warehouse premises [21][25]. Ukrainian metallurgy's contribution to GDP has fallen from 7% to nearly zero due to Russian missile damage [25]. In Kyiv, Russian jet-powered drones struck fuel storage tanks and a non-residential building, injuring eight [13]. Ukrainian officials argued Moscow directs strikes at homes, energy, and industry because it cannot advance at the front [12][25]. A KIIS poll found 77% of Ukrainians ready to continue armed resistance even if Russia leaves them without light and heat in winter [40].
The EU's decision to remove Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list drew condemnation from Ukraine and Latvia [5][24]. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the move unacceptable, saying Moscow was "celebrating because it got what it wanted: a sense of impunity, the humiliation of the EU, and division among Europeans" [5]. Zelensky said "no name on the sanctions list is there by accident" [24]. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Latvia could not accept the proposed compromise, and Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said sanctions should be tightened, not weakened [29]. France, citing national security concerns, and Luxembourg, citing legal exposure, pushed for the removals [5][29]. Usmanov called the asset freezes "unfair," and Peskov welcomed the outcome, saying all Russians should be removed from the list [5].
European intelligence services and leaders warned that Russia may test NATO with a hybrid or direct attack in "months, not years" [10]. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament that intelligence assessments suggested Russia might launch an attack with drones or missiles on NATO territory in the coming months [10]. Macron summoned party leaders for an emergency meeting to discuss the warnings [10]. Lithuania's Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius told the BBC that Lithuania has evacuation plans and will fight back if attacked [23]. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Lukashenko would provide Belarusian territory for new Russian attacks on Ukraine [35]. Russia's FSB imposed restrictions near the Estonian border from September 16 to 26, limiting nighttime movement and access to the Narva River [13]. Estonian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Jonatan Vseviov cautioned against "panic" [10], and French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said France has experienced only cyberattacks, not drone overflights or sabotage [34]. French Senator Cédric Perrin said the threshold for triggering a new national security alert state had not been reached [34].
The war's disruption of Black Sea grain exports threatened food security for millions across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America [20][45]. EU Ambassador to South Korea Ugo Astuto said Russia was "choking off Ukraine's options for transport of grain" [20]. Ukrainian grain exports fell by half in August year-on-year, with over 9 million tonnes potentially left outside storage by November [20]. The Center for Strategic and International Studies found that strikes on Black Sea ports hit about 70% of Russia's and 90% of Ukraine's grain export capacity [46]. Turkey announced a plan to ensure safe passage of grain shipments [45]. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Vsevolod Chentsov said Kyiv was open to a grain truce with Russia in the Black Sea [15].
Inside Russia, the anti-war Yabloko party was banned from parliamentary elections by a court two weeks after registering, despite viral TikTok and Instagram support under the slogan "For Peace and Freedom. For life without fear" [9]. Russians who considered emigration explained staying for work, family, medical care, or attachment to their country [14]. In the Kharkiv region, rescue teams evacuated residents from Khotimlia under constant shelling, with one evacuee describing her destroyed home: «Récemment, quatre missiles sont tombés sur le village. La maison est complètement détruite, il ne reste que les murs. Je n'ai plus nulle part où aller» (Recently, four missiles fell on the village. The house is completely destroyed, only the walls remain. I have nowhere else to go) [28].
US Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to meet with Ukraine's negotiating team and representatives from the UK, France, and Germany to discuss Kyiv's de-escalation proposals [32]. Zelensky said Trump was positive about granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, with domestic production potentially taking about a year and a half [1][32]. The IAEA reported the restoration of off-site power to the Zaporizhzhya plant via a seventh localized ceasefire, warning the plant remains fragile with depleted diesel reserves [42].