U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met on Tuesday to discuss restarting peace negotiations with Russia and expanding Ukraine’s defense capabilities through the domestic production of Patriot missile interceptors. Later in the day, both leaders attended the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime and outspoken supporter of Ukraine.
Before the memorial service, Trump hosted Zelenskyy for a private meeting in the Oval Office. The Ukrainian leader also held talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at a Washington hotel and met with several U.S. senators at the Capitol.
The fast-paced visit gave Zelenskyy an opportunity to reinforce U.S. backing for Ukraine at a time when bilateral relations have improved significantly compared to earlier this year. However, uncertainty remains over American military assistance, while Graham’s passing removes one of Kyiv’s strongest advocates in Washington.
Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy said he stressed Ukraine’s urgent need for additional anti-ballistic missile systems and interceptors during his discussions with Trump and lawmakers. He also welcomed new U.S. legislation proposing broad sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector.
The Ukrainian president noted that while his country’s drones are capable of intercepting Iranian- and Russian-made unmanned aircraft, Ukraine still lacks sufficient defenses against the ballistic missiles Russia continues to launch.
“The main challenge is obtaining anti-ballistic defense systems and the missiles that go with them,” Zelenskyy said after meeting senators at the U.S. Capitol, adding that he outlined Ukraine’s immediate military requirements.
Earlier, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram that he had a productive meeting with Trump, during which they revisited the U.S. president’s pledge made at this month’s NATO summit to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors under license.
As Russian aerial assaults have intensified, Ukraine has repeatedly faced shortages of Patriot systems, currently the country’s only reliable defense against ballistic missile attacks.
Later, during an interview on Fox News’ Hannity, Zelenskyy said Trump had agreed to provide the necessary licensing for Ukraine to begin producing Patriot interceptors domestically.
Zelenskyy also said both sides discussed the importance of reviving diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, emphasizing that negotiations with Russia, now in the fifth year of the war, need renewed momentum.
According to two people familiar with the discussions, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, have agreed to make their first visit to Ukraine as part of a renewed effort to facilitate talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Both have previously traveled to Russia and met several times with President Vladimir Putin since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Last week, Zelenskyy confirmed he had already spoken with Witkoff and Kushner regarding the possibility of resuming peace negotiations. One source said no date has yet been finalized for their visit.
Separately, Zelenskyy revealed that he met representatives from Lockheed Martin, one of the manufacturers of Patriot interceptors. He said discussions focused on accelerating plans for joint production, with technical teams already working to establish a co-production framework.
After attending Senator Graham’s funeral, Zelenskyy spent nearly an hour meeting with U.S. senators before entering the Senate chamber to observe a crucial bipartisan vote on a new package of sanctions against Russia. Graham had been a leading supporter of the legislation and had announced Trump’s backing for the measure shortly before his death.
Zelenskyy described the proposed sanctions as vital, saying they would further weaken Russia’s ability to finance the war while demonstrating continued American support for Ukraine.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the legislation would send a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine would not be intimidated. He added that the United States remains committed to supporting Kyiv in its fight against Russian aggression.
The visit also came as scrutiny grew over U.S. military assistance after a Pentagon letter to lawmakers revealed that the Trump administration does not expect to complete the distribution of the remaining $400 million in previously authorized aid to Ukraine until fiscal year 2029.
The delay has drawn criticism from Democrats as well as several Republicans, who argue the Pentagon has been slow to release funding that Congress approved with bipartisan support.
Although Trump and Zelenskyy experienced repeated tensions during the early months of Trump’s second term, their relationship has strengthened in recent months. The improvement has coincided with Ukraine achieving greater success on the battlefield, including intensified strikes on Russia’s oil infrastructure.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died unexpectedly from a heart condition on July 11 at the age of 71. A close ally of Trump and a prominent advocate of an assertive U.S. foreign policy, Graham consistently championed military support for Ukraine. He had visited Kyiv just one day before his death, marking his tenth trip to the country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
