Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to discuss bolstering Kyiv's anti-ballistic missile defences in talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House. His visit comes amid escalating Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's capital.
Recently, Moscow’s mayor reported that over 390 drones targeted the city overnight, with most intercepted by Russian air defences. Damage was confirmed in parts of Moscow, though no casualties were reported.
Focus on Patriot Missile Production
Zelensky is expected to press Trump to advance support for Ukraine's production of Patriot interceptor missiles. Earlier this month, Trump backed licensing Kyiv to manufacture these advanced PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors, but local production involves complex political and technical hurdles.
A delegation from US defence firm Raytheon recently visited Kyiv, expressing readiness to deepen cooperation on missile defence systems.
Diplomatic Engagements in Washington
After meeting Zelensky, Trump will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both leaders are in Washington to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.
Regional Security Concerns
- Ukraine accuses Iran of aiding Russian aggression, citing intelligence on satellite imagery sharing to facilitate attacks on US and Gulf targets.
- Trump has committed to investigating these claims with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Meanwhile, tensions persist as Ukrainian forces targeted an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea.
Russian and Regional Reactions
Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned what he termed "terrorist methods" used by enemies but vowed to achieve victory. He faced calls from Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to consider freezing the conflict and resuming peace talks under the "Istanbul formula 2.0," though Kremlin officials dismissed this option given Ukraine's stance.
