Trump and Zelenskyy discuss Patriot production licence in Washington

Washington,UPDATED: Jul 29, 2026 04:46 IST

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in the Oval Office on Tuesday ahead of Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral, with the two leaders discussing ways to help Ukraine strengthen its own weapons production as the war with Russia continues. After the meeting, Zelenskyy said they spoke about licences for Patriot interceptor production and other proposals that could support Kyiv.

The meeting came weeks after Trump announced at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, that the US would give Ukraine a licence to make Patriot defence systems, a long-standing request from Kyiv to help counter Russian missile attacks. Taken together, the two meetings point to a change in Trump's approach to Ukraine, after he had earlier been sceptical of continued support for Kyiv.

In a social media post after Tuesday's meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the "good meeting" and the administration's support. "The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help," he said. Zelenskyy also said he offered condolences to Trump on Graham's death, and added: "We also spoke about diplomacy - it's important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated." White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said both the Zelenskyy meeting and a separate later meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were "positive and productive".

Later in his one-day visit to Washington, Zelenskyy said he met Lockheed Martin officials to discuss more cooperation in defence production and technology exchange. "Ukraine has a lot to share with those who help us protect lives," he said. Luke Coffey of the Hudson Institute said expanding production of Patriot interceptors was important not only for Ukraine but also for the US and its Gulf allies as supplies run low during the war in Iran. "Ukraine has shown that its defense industry is capable, innovative and creative," Coffey said. "I have no doubt that when they're granted the license, they will be able to produce these missiles which will hopefully mean there will be more available for the US." The Trump administration's warmer tone towards Zelenskyy follows a period in which the Ukrainian leader had to rebuild ties with Trump after a contentious White House meeting earlier in his second term.

Zelenskyy's visit also came against the backdrop of growing links between the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy said Russia had been helping Iran by capturing satellite images of US bases in the Gulf region that later appeared in Iran, and said there was a "clear correlation" between those images and later Iranian strikes. Iran is a key Russian ally in the war and has helped Moscow build up its drone capability. Trump, however, played down any Russian help for Iran, saying on Air Force One: "I don't think they've been doing it, certainly not at a high level. And if they have, it has been very un-impactful." Over the weekend, Ukraine also fired on at least one Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said his conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was "frank" and that Ukraine was focused "solely at defending our country from Russian aggression and never intended to target civilian vessels or people". Iran said at least one sailor was killed. Araghchi said Iran was not seeking escalation but "made clear any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable" and "there must be restitution for losses".

Trump welcomed Zelenskyy as both leaders travelled to honour Graham, whose final public act was a visit to Kyiv to secure agreement on a sanctions package aimed at countries that buy Russian oil, gas and other exports. In an interview with Fox News, Trump recalled Graham's support for Ukraine and said the senator had urged a deal with Iran but had not made a similar suggestion on the Russia-Ukraine war. "Ukraine, he's very militant about," Trump said. "I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you." The administration's shift has also coincided with a change in the position of far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has influence with Trump. After travelling through Ukraine and interviewing Zelenskyy, she said she had been "bamboozled by Russian propaganda" and that she had spoken to Trump after meeting the Ukrainian leader.

Zelenskyy also met senators at the Capitol after Graham's funeral at Washington Cathedral, as Republican leaders sought to move Graham's sanctions Bill this week before the August recess. The legislation, backed by members of both parties, would impose tariffs on goods from the world's top five buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. It also includes sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, and Russian financial institutions and energy projects. The Washington meetings brought together talks on military support, diplomacy and sanctions, underlining the wider effort to bolster Ukraine as the war enters its fifth year.

With PTI Inputs

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