President Zelensky meets with President Trump at the White House

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on July 28, 2026. The meeting, which lasted approximately one hour behind closed doors, took place while Zelensky was in Washington for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine. The primary agenda included discussions on potential security assistance and the possibility of granting Ukraine authorization to produce Patriot missile defense systems locally to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Zelensky emphasized the necessity of strengthening air defenses, noting that June was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022 due to increased Russian missile strikes. During a separate interview with Fox News, Zelensky stated that while he seeks a ceasefire to allow for diplomatic progress, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to end the conflict, which Zelensky claims results in 30,000 Russian troop losses per month. The two leaders also discussed prospects for revitalizing peace talks, although official diplomatic efforts currently remain at a standstill after four years of war.