The leader of Ukraine indicated that licenses for the production of “Patriot” air defense system missiles were discussed, as well as ways to resume negotiations with Russia.
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V. Zelensky spent just over an hour with D. Trump. This meeting took place as Kyiv and Moscow intensified long-range strikes, and US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war stalled.
“Thank you for everything we do together to protect Ukrainian lives and bring peace closer,” V. Zelensky later wrote on the social network “X”.
“We discussed with the president the licenses for the production of ‘Patriot’ missiles and several other ideas that could help,” he added.
“We also talked about diplomacy – it is important that the diplomatic process is revived,” said V. Zelensky.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as “positive and productive”.
The relationship between V. Zelensky and D. Trump warmed since the beginning of the second term of the US president. Earlier this month, D. Trump hinted that Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory could help end the war.
Before the meeting, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP news agency that Kyiv’s priorities are a new missile defense system and ways to revive diplomacy, more than four years after the large-scale Russian invasion.
According to the United Nations (UN), last month was the bloodiest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, as Russia intensified the use of hard-to-intercept ballistic missiles.
“It is very important that Washington approves the purchase of the ‘Patriot’ missile package. This is extremely important,” said the Ukrainian leader.
V. Zelensky was also to participate in a memorial ceremony dedicated to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham – a loyal supporter of Ukraine who unexpectedly died this month at the age of 71.
V. Zelensky said he expressed condolences to D. Trump over L. Graham’s death, calling the senator “a true friend of Ukraine”.
“Amazing work”
Since returning to power last year, D. Trump halted direct US arms supplies to Kyiv, instead allowing European countries to purchase weapons for Ukraine.
Nevertheless, Washington remains an important ally, providing intelligence data and access to the “Starlink” satellite system used for battlefield communications.
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The relationship between the two leaders improved after an extraordinary confrontation in the Oval Office in February 2025, when D. Trump accused V. Zelensky of ingratitude and “playing the Third World War”.
During the latest meeting in Turkey this month, D. Trump praised V. Zelensky for amazing work and offered Kyiv licenses for the production of “Patriot” missiles.
Last week, V. Zelensky spoke with D. Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about how to “revive diplomacy” as the war in the Middle East pushed the Ukraine issue to the background on Washington’s agenda.
Previous US mediation efforts failed due to Ukrainian territories claimed by Russia.
Pressure over sanctions
After the meeting at the White House and the L. Graham memorial event, V. Zelensky addressed senators ahead of the initial procedural vote on the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill.
L. Graham supported this measure for more than a year and shortly before his death reached an agreement with the White House on amendments.
Some Democrats expressed concern about provisions that would expand D. Trump’s powers to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy resources.
However, with bipartisan votes, the bill had moved closer to final approval, increasing pressure on the House of Representatives, where the legislation faces greater disagreements.
Meanwhile, relations between Moscow and Washington cooled after D. Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov denied on Monday that ceasefire negotiations are underway and warned that intensified Ukrainian attacks inside Russia will only prolong the war.
Ukraine has recently intensified strikes on Russian oil storage facilities, refineries, and shipping, contributing to fuel shortages.
A few hours before V. Zelensky’s meeting with D. Trump, Kyiv launched hundreds of drones into Russia.
In turn, Moscow launched more than 100 drones into Ukraine overnight and continues to attack the port of Odesa and ships carrying Ukrainian agricultural products.
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