Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he and President Donald Trump discussed licenses for the production of Patriot interceptors and efforts to revive diplomacy during an Oval Office meeting.
Both leaders described the meeting positively. Trump wrote on Truth Social that it was a “great honor” and that “the meeting went very well.” Zelenskyy called it “a good meeting” in an X post and thanked the United States for its support in protecting Ukrainian lives and advancing peace.
Zelenskyy said the talks covered several other ideas that could help Ukraine. He said their teams would arrange the details of further communication and stressed the importance of reinvigorating the diplomatic process.
Zelenskyy said he also met with more than 60 senators from both parties in Washington. They discussed several issues, “first and foremost, anti-ballistic defense,” he said in a separate X post.
The Senate held a procedural vote on a Russia sanctions bill during his visit, and 86 senators supported it, according to Zelenskyy. He said the legislation was one the late Sen. Lindsey Graham had worked hard on and called the vote “the first step toward implementing Lindsey’s plans.”
Zelenskyy said the vote came as the Senate bid farewell to Graham, whom he called “a true friend of Ukraine.” He said he offered Trump condolences on Graham’s passing during the Oval Office meeting.
Zelenskyy also met with Lockheed Martin, which he said produces ATACMS, HIMARS, F-16s and missiles for Patriot systems. In another X post, he said the two sides discussed joint production and technology exchange, with their teams working to move quickly toward co-production.
During a meeting with Alexander Stubb, Zelenskyy said the two discussed diplomatic prospects. He claimed Russia was suffering heavy battlefield losses and facing growing economic strain. Zelenskyy said Stubb praised what he described as Ukraine’s success with “long-range sanctions,” according to an X post.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs missiles for its Patriot systems “literally every day.” He added that preparations were underway for important meetings in August.
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