Key facts
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
- The meeting occurred ahead of Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral.
- Zelensky's visit aims to discuss ballistic missile defense and strategic cooperation with the U.S.
- Discussions also included new peace proposals for Russia.
- Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, agreeing to face-to-face talks.
- Zelensky expressed concern that Russia was rushing to resume dialogue upon hearing about potential Tomahawk missile supplies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, a meeting that took place ahead of Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral. Zelensky arrived in the U.S. on July 28 for an official visit, stating his priority was ballistic missile defense and strategic cooperation with the United States, aiming to bring peace closer.
Sources indicated the meeting could occur on the sidelines of Graham's funeral, though a White House meeting was also considered. Discussions were expected to include further attempts to arrange direct talks between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Ukraine and the U.S. coordinating new peace proposals.
News of the visit followed Zelensky's claim that Ukraine had recorded Russian satellite surveillance correlating with Iranian strikes. Trump, however, expressed trust that Russia and China were not significantly enabling Iran. He also reported "great progress" from a recent phone call with Putin, leading to an agreement for face-to-face talks.
Zelensky has been advocating for the U.S. to provide advanced missiles with a range of 2,500 km. Trump, while considering the request, noted concerns about depleting U.S. stockpiles. The planned meeting in Budapest between Trump and Putin, potentially organized with Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban's assistance, was seen by some as a significant development for peace efforts, though Russia launched a large missile and drone attack on Ukraine shortly before the Trump-Putin call.