Kathmandu. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has held important diplomatic talks with US President Donald Trump on defense, military cooperation and the current state of the conflict in Ukraine.
Describing the talks as a “good meeting”, the Ukrainian leader congratulated President Trump on his “successful operation in the Middle East”, referring to the recent US attack on Iran.
The US attack targeted a key production center for Iran’s nuclear and drone infrastructure, and the attack destroyed three Iranian weapons facilities. Zelensky said, “I met with US President Trump in The Hague. The talks were positive. I congratulated President Trump on the successful campaign in the Middle East. It is important that American actions have weakened not only their (Iranian) nuclear program, but also their drone production capabilities.”
One of the main topics of the meeting was Ukraine’s continued use of Russian missiles and drones to strengthen its air defense system. Zelensky said, “Ukraine is actively pursuing the purchase of American-made air defense systems to protect its cities, critical infrastructure, churches, and civilian populations.”
It also calls for broader European cooperation in this effort. The two leaders also discussed the possibility of co-production of drones between the United States and Ukraine. Kiev wants to grow its domestic defense industry and contribute to the Western security supply chain. During the meeting, the Ukrainian president also briefed Trump on the recent technical meeting in Istanbul.
Humanitarian issues, including the exchange of prisoners and the repatriation of the dead, were discussed in Istanbul. “We talked with the US president about the purchase of American air defense systems to protect the security of the Ukrainian people, our cities, churches, and infrastructure,” he said. Ukraine is ready to buy this equipment and provide assistance to American arms manufacturers.
We also discussed the possibility of co-production of drones. We can strengthen each other.” The Ukrainian president said, “I also informed the president about the meeting of the technical team in Istanbul, the exchange of prisoners and the exchange of bodies of the deceased.”
“As part of the exchange, Russia has handed over the bodies of some of its soldiers. Forensic tests are currently underway in Kiev to identify their relatives,” he said. Zelensky also briefed Trump on the latest developments on the battlefield.
He provided a factual account that refuted Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims of progress. “We talked about the situation on the battlefield. Putin is definitely not winning. I presented the president with the facts of what is actually happening on the ground,” Ukrainian leader Zelensky said.
“Thank you for the meeting and your support. I am also grateful for the truly kind words about our citizens. “We will continue to cooperate in light of the latest developments in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia,” Zelensky added.
Moscow’s missile strikes on southeastern Ukraine on Tuesday killed 17 people and injured more than 200 others. Russia announced that it had intercepted dozens of drones overnight in various areas, including the border region of Voronezh, and that Russian troops had taken control of the village of Dylyvka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, NATO member states have pledged to increase their military capabilities by investing five percent of their gross domestic product in “core defense needs” related to defense and security by 2035. RSS
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