Zelensky to press Trump on air defences while in Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Washington for high-stakes talks with Donald Trump to secure anti-missile defense commitments.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Zelensky holds crucial talks with Donald Trump at the White House on air defences.
- Moscow mayor reports 390 drones targeted the capital overnight within hours.
- Ukraine seeks to co-produce sophisticated PAC-2 and PAC-3 Patriot interceptor missiles locally.
- Both Zelensky and Netanyahu are in Washington attending Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral.
Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the United States at a critical juncture of the full-scale war, scheduling vital discussions with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The Ukrainian leader's primary agenda is to cement commitments toward strengthening Kyiv's anti-ballistic missile defenses, arriving just after Moscow's mayor reported that the Russian capital was targeted by 390 drones in a matter of hours overnight.
The Ukrainian president is expected to press Trump regarding the support promised earlier this month, which would grant Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles domestically. With Russia escalating deadly ballistic missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital, Zelensky emphasized that these interceptor missiles are urgently required, though global supplies remain severely constrained following conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
While promising a manufacturing license is a notable diplomatic gesture, establishing production lines for sophisticated PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors on Ukrainian soil involves complex legal, political, and technical hurdles. This comes on the heels of a delegation from US defense manufacturer Raytheon visiting Kyiv, where executives expressed readiness to elevate the partnership despite the manufacturing challenges.
Zelensky's Washington visit coincides with that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as both leaders attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away this month at age 71. The diplomatic meetings unfold against a backdrop of intersecting geopolitical tensions, including a recent Ukrainian strike on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, with Kyiv labeling Tehran a direct accomplice to Russian military aggression.
Source: BBC World
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