WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed a “good meeting” with US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, saying they discussed licenses to produce Patriot air-defence interceptors and ways to revive negotiations with Russia.
Zelensky spent just over an hour with Trump to discuss US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace,” Zelensky said afterwards in a statement on X.
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 / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 28, 2026
“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.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the meeting as “positive and productive.”
President Trump has concluded his meetings in the Oval Office with President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Both meetings were positive and productive!
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 28, 2026
Relations between Zelensky and Trump have warmed since the start of the US president’s second term, with Trump suggesting earlier this month that Ukrainian strikes inside Russia could help end the war.
Revival of diplomacy
Ahead of the meeting, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Kyiv’s priorities were fresh supplies of anti-ballistic missiles and ways to revive diplomacy.
“It is crucial that Washington approve the purchase of a package of Patriot missiles. That is super important,” the Ukrainian official said.
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.
Zelensky said he had offered Trump his condolences over Graham’s death, calling the senator “a true friend of Ukraine.”
Since returning to power last year, Trump has ended direct deliveries of US arms to Kyiv, instead allowing European countries to buy weapons for Ukraine.
Washington nevertheless remains a major ally, supplying intelligence and access to the Starlink satellite system used for battleground communications.
Trump and Zelensky relations
Relations between the two leaders have recovered since their extraordinary Oval Office confrontation in February 2025, when Trump accused Zelensky of ingratitude and “gambling with World War III.”
At their latest meeting in Turkiye this month, Trump praised Zelensky for doing “an amazing job” and offered Kyiv licenses to manufacture Patriot missiles.
Zelensky spoke last week with 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.
Relations between Moscow and Washington have meanwhile cooled since Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Monday that talks on an aerial ceasefire were underway and has warned that increased Ukrainian attacks inside Russia will prolong the war.
Ukraine has recently stepped up strikes on Russian oil depots, refineries and shipping, contributing to fuel shortages.
Hours before Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, Kyiv launched hundreds of drones at Russia.
Moscow, meanwhile, fired more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight and has continued attacking the port of Odesa and ships carrying Ukrainian agricultural exports.
