Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed a "good meeting" with US counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, saying they discussed licenses to produce Patriot air-defence interceptors and ways to revive negotiations with Russia.

Zelensky spent just over an hour with Trump, in talks that came with Kyiv and Moscow intensifying long-range strikes and US-led diplomatic efforts to end the war stalled.

"Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace," Zelensky said afterwards in a statement on X.

"The President and I discussed licences for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help," he added. "We also spoke about diplomacy – it's important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated."

Zelensky said officials from the two countries would arrange further discussions, adding that he was grateful for Washington's "firm support."

Relations between Zelensky and Trump have warmed since the start of the US president's second term, with Trump suggesting earlier this month that Ukrainian strikes inside Russia could help end the war.

Ahead of the meeting, a senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv's priorities were fresh supplies of anti-ballistic missiles and ways to revive diplomacy, more than four years after Russia's full-scale assault.

Last month was the deadliest for Ukraine civilians since April 2022, according to the United Nations, as Russia increased its use of difficult-to-intercept ballistic missiles.

"It is crucial that Washington approve the purchase of a package of Patriot missiles. That is super important," the Ukrainian official said.

Since returning to power last year, Trump has ended direct deliveries of US arms to Kyiv, instead allowing European countries to buy weapons for Ukraine.

Washington nevertheless remains a major ally, supplying intelligence and access to the Starlink satellite system used for battleground communications.

Relations between the two leaders have recovered since their extraordinary Oval Office confrontation in February 2025, when Trump accused Zelensky of ingratitude and "gambling with World War III."

At their latest meeting in Türkiye this month, Trump praised Zelensky for doing "an amazing job" and offered Kyiv licences to manufacture Patriot missiles.

Zelensky spoke last week with Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about how to "reinvigorate diplomacy" after the Middle East war pushed Ukraine talks down Washington's agenda.

Previous US mediation efforts foundered over Ukrainian territory claimed by Russia. (AFP)



Edited by Cecil Wong