Zelenskyy to Visit Washington This Week to Meet Trump, Discuss Air Defence and Pressure on Russia
Synopsis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Washington this week to meet US President Donald Trump. The leaders are expected to discuss air defence support, strategies to counter Russian aggression, and boosting Ukraine’s defences.
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday he will go to Washington this week to see US President Donald Trump, to discuss air defences and how to put more pressure on Russia.
Zelenskyy said he would join a Ukrainian delegation there holding talks with US politicians and companies, and he hoped to have his meeting with Trump on Friday.
Trump confirmed what would be the Ukrainian leader's third visit to the White House since January when a reporter asked if he plans to host Zelenskyy on Friday.
"I think so, yeah," the US president said during a brief fuel stop as he travelled back to Washington from the Middle East.
Zelenskyy highlighted that he had two phone calls with Trump over the weekend, during which they discussed the "challenges" Ukraine faces as Russian strikes target the country's energy infrastructure, and the situation on the battlefield.
"We discussed some sensitive issues. That conversation was not enough, even though it was substantive," the Ukrainian leader said, as he hosted a visit to Kyiv by the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.
He said the Ukrainian delegation which has already left for the United States included Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as well as the heads of his presidential office and of the national security council, and diplomatic representatives.
When Zelenskyy joins them, he said he planned to have more meetings, including with US military companies, senators and congressmen.
"The main topics are air defence and our possibilities... to pressure Russia," he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed)