A key meeting between the leaders of two countries took place in Washington: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump. The negotiations were held in the Oval Office of the White House in a closed format, without the presence of the press. The main topics of the dialogue were the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense system and the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Priority — Sky Protection

Even upon arrival in the United States, Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined the main goal of the visit. In his Telegram channel, he emphasized that priority number one is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. According to Reuters, citing a Ukrainian source, one of the central topics of the negotiations was the purchase of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

"We suffer strikes daily, so we need 'permission' from Trump and his team to allow us to purchase missiles for Patriot. This is a top priority — saving lives," the source noted. In addition, the agenda includes the issue of finalizing the agreement between Ukraine and the US on the supply of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Peace Process and Rhetoric Shift

In addition to military aid, the leaders discussed diplomatic ways to resolve the conflict. According to CNN, one of the key topics of the meeting was the peace process. A source at the White House stated that "this war needs to end." Earlier, Reuters reported that Kyiv and Washington discussed a proposal for a ceasefire in the air, which is planned to be presented to the Russian side as part of new peace initiatives.

In recent weeks, a shift in the American leader's position has emerged. According to The Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump has become more favorable towards the Ukrainian president. Sources for the publication claim that his opinion was influenced by Ukraine's resilience on the battlefield, personal meetings at international summits, as well as communication with the famous Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk and human rights activist Laura Loomer, who changed her views after a trip to Kyiv.

Dense Schedule in Washington

The meeting in the Oval Office was only part of a busy visit. Earlier that day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in a memorial ceremony for Senator Lindsey Graham — one of the most active supporters of Ukraine in Congress and a co-author of the bill on tightening sanctions against Russia. In the evening, Trump will also attend the farewell ceremony for the politician.

In addition, the Ukrainian leader's schedule includes:

  • A meeting with the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb.
  • A speech before 100 US Senators in the Capitol, where he intends to discuss issues of support and sanctions with the co-authors of the relevant bills.

In Kyiv, this visit is seen as a unique opportunity to obtain new military support and advance peace initiatives at the beginning of Donald Trump's second term. The Financial Times notes that the President of Ukraine's task is to convince the American leader that supporting Kyiv is in the US interest, appealing to his desire to be associated with success.