Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced plans to visit the United States this week for a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, as Kyiv seeks to secure stronger air defense systems and intensify diplomatic pressure on Russia amid renewed attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Speaking in Kyiv on Monday, Zelensky said his trip to Washington will include meetings with U.S. officials, lawmakers, and defense companies, culminating in a one-on-one meeting with Trump at the White House on Friday.
“We discussed some sensitive issues. That conversation was not enough, even though it was substantive,” Zelensky said, referring to two phone calls he had with Trump over the weekend. “The main topics are air defense and our possibilities to pressure Russia.”
President Trump confirmed the upcoming meeting during a brief stop in the Middle East on his return to Washington. When asked by reporters if Zelensky would visit the White House on Friday, Trump replied, “I think so, yeah.”
The upcoming visit will mark Zelensky’s third trip to the White House since January, underscoring the renewed diplomatic engagement between Kyiv and Washington under Trump’s administration.
Zelensky said a Ukrainian delegation—including Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, top security officials, and senior diplomats—had already departed for Washington ahead of his arrival. Their agenda includes talks with U.S. senators, congressional leaders, and major defense contractors to explore additional support for Ukraine’s air defense and reconstruction efforts.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Russia’s intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and border regions have created an urgent need for enhanced U.S. military and technological assistance.
“Our air defense remains the key to saving lives and maintaining stability,” Zelensky said during a joint press conference with visiting EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “We must continue to strengthen our capacity and ensure that Russia faces mounting pressure—politically, economically, and militarily.”
The White House has not yet released an official agenda for Friday’s meeting, but sources close to the administration suggest discussions will likely cover defense cooperation, sanctions on Russia, and U.S. investment in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
The visit comes at a pivotal time in Ukraine’s war effort, as Russian forces intensify drone and missile attacks across multiple fronts. Analysts believe Zelensky’s meeting with Trump will test how far the U.S. is willing to go in supporting Kyiv’s push for greater defense autonomy while maintaining global pressure on Moscow.
Both leaders are also expected to address the state of U.S.-Ukraine relations, which have evolved significantly since Trump returned to office.
If successful, the visit could signal a new phase in Washington’s role in the conflict—one centered on strategic cooperation and economic rebuilding, rather than just emergency wartime aid.
