Volodymyr Zelensky emerged from the White House calling his talks with Donald Trump a “good meeting,” as Ukraine presses for tighter air defences and a diplomatic reset while Russia and Ukraine trade escalating long-range strikes.
The Ukrainian president spent just over an hour with the US president, meeting at a moment when US-led efforts to end the war have stalled and fighting has intensified far from the front lines.
“Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace,” Mr Zelensky said afterwards in a statement on X.
He said the leaders focused on strengthening Ukraine’s ability to counter aerial attacks, including cooperation on missile production. “The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” he added. “We also spoke about diplomacy – it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”
Mr Zelensky said officials from the two countries would set up follow-on talks, and he expressed gratitude for Washington’s “firm support”.
The relationship between the two leaders has improved since the start of Mr Trump’s second term. Earlier this month, Mr Trump suggested Ukrainian strikes inside Russia could help bring the conflict to an end.
Donald Trump accused Volodymyr Zelensky of ingratitude at the meeting in February 2025
Before today’s sit-down, a senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv planned to push for fresh supplies of anti-ballistic missiles and practical steps to restart diplomacy, more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
According to the United Nations, last month was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, as Russia stepped up its use of ballistic missiles that are difficult to intercept.
“It is crucial that Washington approve the purchase of a package of Patriot missiles. That is super important,” the Ukrainian official said.
Mr Zelensky was also due to attend a memorial ceremony for Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Ukraine supporter who died unexpectedly this month at age 71.
Mr Zelensky said he had offered Mr Trump his condolences over Mr Graham’s death, calling the senator “a true friend of Ukraine”.
Since returning to power last year, Mr Trump has ended direct deliveries of US arms to Kyiv, instead allowing European countries to buy weapons for Ukraine.
Even so, Washington remains a pivotal ally, providing intelligence as well as access to the Starlink satellite system that Ukraine relies on for battlefield communications.
Relations between the two leaders have recovered since their extraordinary Oval Office confrontation in February 2025, when Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of ingratitude and “gambling with World War III”.
At their latest meeting in Turkey this month, Mr Trump praised Mr Zelensky for doing “an amazing job” and offered Kyiv licences to manufacture Patriot missiles.
Mr Zelensky spoke last week with Mr Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about how to “reinvigorate diplomacy” after the Middle East war pushed Ukraine talks down Washington’s agenda.
Previous US mediation efforts foundered over Ukrainian territory claimed by Russia.
Latest Ukraine stories
After the White House meeting and the memorial for Mr Graham, Mr Zelensky is expected to address senators shortly before an initial procedural vote on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill.
Mr Graham had spent more than a year promoting the legislation and had reached an agreement with the White House on revisions shortly before his death.
The bill has 62 Senate co-sponsors, though some Democrats have voiced concern about provisions that would broaden Mr Trump’s authority to impose tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy.
Backers of the measure say a strong bipartisan vote could accelerate final passage and add pressure in the House of Representatives, where the proposal faces sharper divisions.
At the same time, ties between Moscow and Washington have cooled since Mr Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied yesterday that talks on an aerial ceasefire were under way and warned that increased Ukrainian attacks inside Russia would prolong the war.
Ukraine has recently intensified strikes on Russian oil depots, refineries and shipping, contributing to fuel shortages.
Hours before Mr Zelensky’s meeting with Mr Trump, Kyiv launched hundreds of drones at Russia.
Meanwhile, Moscow fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight and has continued attacking the port of Odesa and ships carrying Ukrainian agricultural exports.
