US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday ahead of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral, discussing ways for Ukraine to produce more powerful weapons and “other ideas that could help” in its ongoing war with Russia.
The Oval Office meeting, which was closed to the media, followed a significant meeting at the NATO summit earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump announced that the United States would give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot defense systems — a long-standing request from Kyiv to help counter Russian missile attacks.
The meetings highlight how Trump, who was once a major skeptic of continued US assistance to Ukraine, has grown more supportive of Zelenskyy as Ukraine continues to withstand Russia’s attacks more than four years after Moscow launched its invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy’s relationship with Trump during the president’s second term was previously strained following a contentious White House visit during which the Ukrainian leader was criticized for appearing ungrateful. Since then, Zelenskyy has sought closer ties with the Republican administration and has relied on both expected and unexpected allies in Trump’s circle to influence the president.
The conflict in the Middle East, which has taken up much of the Trump administration’s attention this year, has also increasingly become linked to the Ukraine war. Ukraine fired on at least one Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend, while Zelenskyy has accused Russia of providing satellite images of US bases in the Persian Gulf to Iran.
After the meeting, Zelenskyy said on social media that he had a “good meeting” with Trump and thanked the Republican administration for its efforts to support Kyiv in the prolonged war.
Officials also agreed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s main envoys, would travel to Kyiv at some point in the future, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed to the media.
“The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” Zelenskyy said. He also expressed condolences to Trump over Graham’s death, describing the senator as a close ally.
“We also spoke about diplomacy — it's important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated,” Zelenskyy said.
Trump later described the meeting as a “Great Honor” and said on Truth Social that “many things were discussed” and that “the meeting went very well.”
Zelenskyy seeks to boost Ukraine’s defense production
During his one-day visit to Washington, Zelenskyy also met with officials from Lockheed Martin to discuss further cooperation in defense production and technology exchanges.
“Ukraine has a lot to share with those who help us protect lives,” he wrote on social media.
Later, in a meeting with senators at the Capitol, Zelenskyy again made the case for Ukraine’s need for Patriot interceptors and urged support for a broad sanctions bill aimed at weakening Russian morale and increasing pressure on Moscow, according to two people familiar with the private discussion. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting.
Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute, said increasing production of Patriot interceptors was important not only for Ukraine but also for the United States and its Gulf allies, particularly as supplies decline amid the war involving Iran.
“Ukraine has shown that its defense industry is capable, innovative and creative,” Coffey said. He said he expected Ukraine to be able to produce the missiles once it receives the license, which could also increase their availability for the United States.
Trump welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian president traveled to Washington to honor Graham. The senator’s final public act had been a visit to Kyiv, where he helped secure an agreement on a sanctions package aimed at countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports.
In an interview with Fox News Channel on Tuesday, Trump recalled Graham’s strong support for Ukraine and said the South Carolina Republican senator’s position on the war had never changed.
Trump said Graham had suggested it was time to reach a deal with Iran but had made no similar proposal regarding the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Ukraine, he's very militant about,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you.”
The Trump administration’s closer engagement with Zelenskyy comes as far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has the president’s ear, has recently changed her views on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Loomer, who is known for provocative social media posts and her influence with Trump, has traveled through Ukraine, witnessed Russian attacks firsthand and interviewed Zelenskyy. She has acknowledged being “bamboozled by Russian propaganda.”
Loomer said she spoke with Trump after meeting Zelenskyy in Ukraine last week and expects to meet with the president after returning from her trip.
Ukraine highlights Russia-Iran ties
Before meeting Trump, Zelenskyy warned that Russia has been assisting Iran by obtaining satellite images of US bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iranian hands.
The Ukrainian president also said there was a “clear correlation” between the Russian images and subsequent Iranian strikes.
Iran is a key Russian ally in the war against Ukraine and has helped Moscow develop its drone capabilities.
Trump, however, played down the significance of possible Russian assistance to Iran on Monday, although he said he would raise the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I don't think they've been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Michigan. “And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.”
Regarding the attack on the Caspian Sea, the foreign ministers of Iran and Ukraine discussed the incident Tuesday, according to statements posted on social media.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the conversation as “frank” and said Ukraine’s focus was “solely at defending our country from Russian aggression” and that it had never intended to target civilian vessels or people.
Iran said at least one sailor was killed in the attack.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran also did not seek escalation but made clear that “any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable” and that there “must be restitution for losses.”
Pro-Ukraine lawmakers push sanctions bill
Zelenskyy had a packed schedule during his latest Washington visit.
At his Capitol meeting, held shortly before a key vote on the Russia sanctions bill and after Graham’s funeral, the Ukrainian leader argued that there was an opportunity to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, according to one person familiar with the discussion.
The Senate took the first steps toward passing legislation in an 86-12 vote that would penalize countries continuing to purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations.
The bill has support from dozens of lawmakers from both major political parties and is seen as a major policy tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly this month from a tear in his aorta.
The legislation would impose tariffs on goods from the world’s five largest buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India.
It also includes sanctions against Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, Russian financial institutions and energy projects.