Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, marking their first in-person meeting since April. The two leaders discussed critical defense cooperation, including Ukraine’s purchase of American air defense systems and the potential for joint drone production to enhance both nations’ security.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy described the meeting as productive, congratulating Trump on a recent U.S. military operation that targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities. He emphasized that these actions not only disrupted Iran’s nuclear program but also hampered its drone manufacturing capabilities. “We will continue monitoring the situation closely,” Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy outlined the main topics of discussion, highlighting Ukraine’s interest in buying U.S. air defense equipment to protect cities, infrastructure, and civilians. He stressed Ukraine’s readiness to support American weapons manufacturers and suggested that Europe could assist in the process. The conversation also explored the possibility of co-producing drones to bolster mutual defense.
The Ukrainian president updated Trump on the latest battlefield developments, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “definitely not winning.” Zelenskyy also briefed Trump on the recent peace talks held in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine.
This meeting comes amid ongoing tensions, with Ukraine still outside the NATO alliance and the Trump administration having previously blocked its membership bid. Despite Zelenskyy's diplomatic efforts at the NATO summit, he did not participate in the alliance’s official annual meeting.
Earlier, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he rejected Putin’s offer to assist with the Iran nuclear deal, instead requesting help in ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly claimed he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours of taking office, a promise that remains unfulfilled.
Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year, continues with intensified attacks. Peace negotiations resumed in May after a three-year pause, leading to prisoner exchanges but no lasting agreement. Russian missile strikes on Dnipro this week killed 17 people and injured over 200, while Ukraine carried out drone strikes on Russian airfields in retaliation.