Zelenskyy Names Defense, Strategic Cooperation Top Trump Talks Focus

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the United States Tuesday for meetings with President Donald Trump, describing anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation as his top priority for the talks.

His schedule also included meetings with members of Trump’s team and others able to support Ukraine’s defense. “Peace needs to be brought closer,” Zelenskyy said.

“Peace needs to be brought closer.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

He added that he would honor the memory of Sen. Lindsey Graham alongside those attending a ceremony in Washington. The Ukrainian president praised Graham’s commitment to security and freedom across the transatlantic community and around the world.

The U.S. visit follows a July 27 trip to the United Kingdom, where Zelenskyy met with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukrainian service members, including some who participated in the Sea Breeze exercises.

Zelenskyy described relations between Ukraine and the UK as the strongest in the history of their cooperation. Air defense, maritime security and joint defense production were among the main priorities.

Zelenskyy and Burnham held their first meeting aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth at Portsmouth Naval Base. His team was the first to visit the UK since Burnham took office, which he called an important signal of support. According to his account, Burnham assured him that British support would remain unwavering.

The UK also decided to provide Ukraine with electronic warfare technologies to protect Ukrainian drones, according to Zelenskyy. He called for expanded cooperation on drones and other technologies and invited Burnham to visit Ukraine.

During the Portsmouth stop, the two leaders boarded Cherkasy, a Ukrainian mine countermeasures vessel that Ukraine received from the UK in January 2023, according to a separate statement.

Five Ukrainian mine countermeasures vessels — Melitopol, Mariupol, Henichesk, Cherkasy and Chernihiv — are based at Portsmouth Naval Base. They will remain there until the war ends and could then conduct mine-clearance operations in Ukraine’s maritime waters.