Zelenskyy and Trump hold key bilateral meeting at NATO Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said he held a productive meeting with US President Donald Trump and his team on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. The discussions centered on strengthening Ukraine's air defence capabilities and advancing diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the strong emphasis placed on bolstering Ukraine's air defence to better protect civilian lives. He noted that both leaders exchanged ideas aimed at strengthening Ukraine's position and bringing peace closer.
US to enable Ukraine to produce Patriot systems
President Trump announced that the United States would provide Ukraine with the capability to manufacture its own Patriot missile defence systems. Currently, only Japan and Germany hold licences to produce these advanced systems, according to CNN. Trump stated that enhancing Ukraine's capabilities could create conditions for negotiations to end the conflict.
Trump was quoted by CNN as saying, "An escalation could help create the space now to negotiate the end of this war," referring to Ukraine's increasing ability to conduct strikes deep inside Russia.
Diplomatic efforts and changing Russian conditions
Zelenskyy also discussed diplomatic efforts with Trump, saying, "We also talked diplomacy - we are trying to make it work." He added that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war were shifting, as reported by CNN. The Ukrainian leader thanked Trump and the United States for continued support and urged allies to provide additional air defence missiles to counter Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy concluded, "I count on our teams to follow up promptly on everything discussed today." The meeting underscores ongoing international efforts to support Ukraine amid the prolonged conflict.
