Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that he had a “good” meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC.
In a statement on X on Thursday, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for “everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace,” as well as offered Kiev’s condolences on the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, describing the late US senator as a “true friend of Ukraine.”
“The President and I discussed licences for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help. We also spoke about diplomacy—it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated,” Zelenskyy added.
He said their teams will arrange the details for further communication, and that he is grateful to the US for its “firm support.”
The Ukrainian president arrived in the US earlier on Tuesday to attend Graham's funeral service.
He will also hold separate talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and a bipartisan group of senators as the US Senate prepares to hold its first vote on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Act on Russia and Iran.
Washington vows a ‘constructive role’ in ending the conflict
Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's top priority was strengthening its air defences, particularly its ability to counter ballistic missiles, while also emphasising strategic cooperation with Washington and efforts to bring peace closer.
The White House said Trump and his team remain committed to playing a "constructive role" in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine and remain optimistic that an agreement can ultimately be reached.
Zelenskyy has also said he plans to share intelligence with Trump on alleged Russian support for Iran, including satellite imagery that he said has been linked to Iranian strikes.
Before the Tuesday meeting, the Ukrainian and US presidents last met on the sidelines of the July NATO summit in Türkiye’s capital Ankara.
According to Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, the latest meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, which was not open to the media, lasted for about an hour.
