Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to encourage China to pressure Russia into ending its invasion of Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy said he had not yet received a response from the White House regarding Trump’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Zelenskyy, who is seeking greater international backing for Ukraine’s defense, was in the United States this week during the U.N. General Assembly. During his visit, he met with Trump on Tuesday. Zelenskyy stated that the U.S. is working to arrange a trilateral meeting involving representatives from the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. These talks would involve officials rather than the heads of state and would focus on technical discussions. Ukraine is awaiting the U.S. to suggest a date for the meetings, with the United Arab Emirates proposed as a possible location. Russian officials have also indicated that President Vladimir Putin and Trump discussed the possibility of such a meeting in the near future. However, previous trilateral talks in 2022, held in Abu Dhabi and Geneva, did not result in any major progress. During his U.S. visit, Zelenskyy also met with U.S. senators and members of Congress, thanking them for their bipartisan support in passing a major sanctions bill targeting Russia. Trump signed the bill into law last week, but the measures have not yet been implemented. Zelenskyy emphasized that sanctions are crucial in pressuring Russia to negotiate and that he hopes Trump will enforce them. “The sanctions are indeed strong... all of this is now in the hands of the president of the United States,” Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy confirmed that Trump had approved the granting of licenses for Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense systems. These systems are vital for defending against Russian ballistic missiles, but they have been in short supply since the war began in February. Trump had previously stated he would allow Ukraine to manufacture its own Patriots but later seemed to reconsider the decision. In addition to meeting with U.S. officials, Zelenskyy held talks with leaders from India, Turkey, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries. These leaders are interested in ensuring unimpeded shipping through the Black Sea, a crucial route for food exports. Zelenskyy said they were also planning to meet with Russian officials to discuss a potential ceasefire in the Black Sea that would allow full resumption of cargo shipments. Both Ukraine and Russia are major suppliers of wheat, barley, and sunflower oil, and the ongoing attacks on ships have raised fears of global food shortages. Zelenskyy also met with the heads of the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission to discuss addressing Ukraine’s financial challenges. He noted that Ukraine’s budget is under strain due to wartime expenses and reduced production. The European Union and the IMF have pledged continued financial support, with future funding potentially coming in the form of technology-sharing agreements and joint drone production. Ukraine is a global leader in military drone manufacturing. Meanwhile, Russian air attacks on Ukraine overnight and into Friday killed five people and injured 11, according to Ukrainian officials. Russian authorities reported one death and 21 injuries from Ukrainian strikes. Zelenskyy said eight Ukrainian regions were targeted, with attacks continuing on Kyiv, where four people were killed in a strike on an office building. A 14-year-old boy was also killed in an apartment building strike, with at least seven others injured. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces hit a missile engine depot near Kyiv and other targets. Ukraine reportedly struck two Russian refineries as part of its strategy to weaken Russia’s economy. Unconfirmed Russian media reports claimed Ukrainian drones also hit a military electronics plant and a synthetic rubber producer.