Pres. Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Wlodomir Zelenski. (Photo: X)
Pres. Volodymyr Zelenski of Ukraine arrived in the USA on Tuesday for a new round of talks with his counterpart, Pres. Donald Trump.
Zelenski is expected to push for strengthened defenses due to the increase in drone and missile attacks in the ongoing war with Russia. He visited Britain before his visit to the USA to strengthen the alliance between the two countries after the appointment of the new prime minister, Andy Burnham.
Zelenski’s relationship with Trump has improved in his second term, with Trump this month offering Kiev licenses to manufacture Patriot air defense missiles. Trump also advised Ukraine to launch attacks in Russia to bring an end to the war.
Ahead of the visit, a Ukrainian official said Zelenski would also ask for anti-ballistic missiles and discussions on ways to revive diplomacy.
Zelenski also said earlier on X: “Our number one priority is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. Peace must be brought closer.”
According to the United Nations, Russia’s use of ballistic missiles, which are difficult to intercept, made June the deadliest since the outbreak of the war in April 2022.
Zelenski also spoke last week with Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, about how to “revive diplomacy”, after the Middle Eastern war pushed Ukraine talks further down the US agenda.
Zelenski is expected to address the US Senate after his meeting with Trump, shortly before a procedural vote on a bipartisan sanctions bill against Russia will be held.
The bill has 62 co-sponsors in the Senate, but some Democrats are uncomfortable with provisions that would expand Trump’s power to impose tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy.
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. First and foremost, I offered President Trump our condolences on the passing of Lindsey Graham. He was a true friend of… pic.twitter.com/56yoaeqb2B
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) July 28, 2026
Supporters hope that a strong bipartisan vote will speed final approval and increase pressure on the House of Representatives, where the legislation faces deeper divisions.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, denied on Monday that there are talks between Russia and the US about an air ceasefire. He also warned that increasing attacks from Ukraine inside Russia would prolong the war.
Hours before Zelenski’s meeting with Trump, Kiev launched hundreds of drones on Russia, including Moscow.
Russia, meanwhile, fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight and continued to attack the port of Odesa and ships carrying Ukrainian agricultural exports.
Nice meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office. Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and achieve peace. First of all, I expressed our condolences to President Trump in connection with the death of Lindsey Graham. He was a true friend of Ukraine.
Discussed with…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) July 28, 2026