Key facts
- Laura Loomer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
- Loomer previously minimized Russia's invasion of Ukraine and amplified Kremlin propaganda.
- Loomer stated that President Zelenskyy is likely to attend Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral and hold talks with Donald Trump.
- Zelenskyy described his relationship with the U.S. president as significantly improved after a brief conversation in the Vatican in April 2025.
- Loomer visited religious sites and a McDonald's in Kyiv that had been hit by Russian missiles.
Rightwing US influencer Laura Loomer met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, marking a significant reversal of her previous stance on the war in Ukraine and Russian propaganda. Loomer, who has nearly two million social media followers and is known for her close ties to Donald Trump, conducted an interview with Zelenskyy in the presidential palace garden.
During the interview, Zelenskyy indicated he is likely to attend Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral and hold talks with Donald Trump in Washington next week. Zelenskyy described his relationship with the U.S. president as having significantly improved following a brief conversation at the Vatican in April 2025, which he called a "historic moment."
Loomer's visit comes after she publicly shifted her rhetoric, expressing empathy for Ukrainians experiencing daily air raids and stating the need for "moral clarity." She had previously criticized U.S. support for Ukraine, echoing Russian narratives. Her change in perspective was noted by commentators and officials, including Anton Gerashchenko, who described the meeting as important for breaking Russian narratives within parts of the MAGA movement.
Loomer also visited significant religious and cultural sites in Kyiv, including the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and a McDonald's that had been damaged by Russian attacks. She engaged with Ukraine's chief rabbi, Moshe Reuven Azman, discussing the impact of the war.