Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held closed-door talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, seeking renewed diplomatic and military backing as Ukraine continues its war against Russia.
The meeting, which lasted just over an hour, took place amid escalating long-range attacks by both Ukraine and Russia and stalled US-led efforts to broker an end to the conflict. No official details of the discussions were immediately released.
Relations between Zelensky and Trump have improved since the start of Trump’s second term, with the US president recently offering Ukraine licences to produce Patriot air defence missiles and suggesting that Ukrainian strikes inside Russia could help bring the war to an end.
Ahead of the meeting, a senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Kyiv’s priorities included securing additional anti-ballistic missile systems and discussing ways to revive diplomatic negotiations.
“Our number-one priority is anti-ballistic defence and strategic cooperation with America. Peace needs to be brought closer,” Zelensky wrote on X after arriving in the United States.
According to the United Nations, last month was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, as Russia increased its use of ballistic missiles that are difficult to intercept.
The Ukrainian official stressed the importance of Washington approving the purchase of a package of Patriot missile systems, describing it as a critical priority.
During his visit, Zelensky was also scheduled to attend a memorial service for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died unexpectedly earlier this month at the age of 71.
Since returning to office, Trump has ended direct US arms deliveries to Ukraine, replacing them with a programme that allows European countries to purchase weapons on Kyiv’s behalf. Despite the policy shift, the United States remains a key ally by providing intelligence support and access to the Starlink satellite communications system used by Ukrainian forces.
The latest White House meeting marked a significant improvement in relations between the two leaders following their tense Oval Office confrontation in February 2025, when Trump accused Zelensky of being ungrateful and “gambling with World War III.”
At a meeting in Turkey earlier this month, Trump praised Zelensky for doing “an amazing job” and reiterated his support for licensing Patriot missile production in Ukraine.
Last week, Zelensky also met with Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to discuss ways of reinvigorating diplomatic efforts after the conflict in the Middle East shifted Washington’s focus away from Ukraine.
Following his White House meeting and Graham’s memorial service, Zelensky was expected to address US senators ahead of a procedural vote on a bipartisan bill proposing tougher sanctions on Russia.
The legislation, championed by Graham before his death, has attracted support from 62 senators, although some Democrats have expressed concerns over provisions that would expand the president’s authority to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy.
Supporters hope the bill will gain enough bipartisan backing to accelerate its passage in Congress, despite divisions within the House of Representatives.
Zelensky’s visit comes as he seeks to win broader support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. However, opposition to continued US assistance remains, with 76 House Republicans last week backing an unsuccessful attempt to end all American security aid to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, relations between Washington and Moscow have cooled following Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last August.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday dismissed reports of negotiations on an aerial ceasefire, warning that intensified Ukrainian attacks inside Russia would only prolong the conflict.
Ukraine has recently expanded drone strikes targeting Russian oil depots, refineries and shipping infrastructure, contributing to fuel shortages.
Hours before Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, Ukraine launched hundreds of drones at targets across Russia, including Moscow.
Russia, in turn, launched more than 100 drones at Ukraine overnight and continued attacks on the Black Sea port of Odesa and vessels transporting Ukrainian agricultural exports.
