Zelenskyy and Trump reaffirm new closeness on Ukraine war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, a significant encounter that signaled a renewed alignment between the two leaders after a period of U.S. hesitation regarding the war in Ukraine.

During their closed-door meeting, Zelenskyy presented several key issues, including potential sanctions against Russia, requests for additional Patriot interceptor missiles, and the offer of drone technology for use in conflicts, particularly mentioning Iran. He also conveyed Ukraine's stance on the possibility of a peace agreement to end the ongoing war.

Zelenskyy described the meeting as "good," expressing gratitude for the joint efforts to protect Ukrainian lives and advance peace. He noted discussions on licenses for Patriot missile production and "several other ideas that could help." Additionally, he emphasized the importance of revitalizing the diplomatic process.

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A good meeting with President Trump @POTUS at the Oval Office. Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace.

This fourth visit by Zelenskyy to the White House contrasts sharply with his first meeting with Trump in February 2025. At that time, Trump had publicly humiliated Zelenskyy, accusing him of "playing with World War III" and stating he had "no cards to play" in negotiations. However, over the subsequent year and a half, as Ukraine has withstood Russian assaults for over 1,600 days, the relationship has solidified. Ukraine's military has made advances, partly due to its effective use of drones and advanced interception systems, technology it is now willing to share with the U.S. and its Persian Gulf allies.

The Ukrainian military requires immediate defensive support through U.S. Patriot interception systems, as Moscow has intensified ballistic missile attacks near Kyiv. While Trump had previously authorized Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems, production will take time. Zelenskyy's visit also coincided with his attendance at the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine.

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The President and I discussed licenses for the production of Patriot interceptors and several other ideas that could help. We also talked about diplomacy, it is important that the diplomatic process be revitalized.