Zelenskyy Seeks Renewed US Aid After Massive Russian Barrage
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump held an “important and fruitful” 40-minute conversation Friday, a day after Trump expressed frustration over his unproductive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy conveyed his gratitude to Trump for his “attention to Ukraine,” emphasizing the need for “just, lasting, and dignified peace” to halt the ongoing conflict.
Their discussion notably addressed the recent U.S. decision to abruptly halt deliveries of key air defense missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. Both leaders reportedly agreed to collaborate on bolstering Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
RELATED: Russia Unleashes Massive Aerial Attack On Ukraine, Kyiv Hit Hard
This comes at a perilous time for Ukraine, as Russian forces unleashed their largest aerial assault of the war overnight into Friday, pummeling cities across the country with a record 550 drones and missiles.
Zelenskyy described it as a “brutal, sleepless night,” with at least one person killed and dozens injured.
Kyiv had previously warned that delays in interceptors would “encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror,” while Washington defended its move by prioritizing America’s “interests first.” The Kremlin, for its part, applauded the reduction in U.S. supplies, claiming it could expedite an end to the war.
Despite the current halt, Trump indicated last week at the NATO summit in The Hague that he is not ruling out the possibility of providing further military aid or sending a new batch of Patriot air-defense missiles to Ukraine.
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