In brief
Volodymyr Zelenskiy flies into Washington to meet President Donald Trump and press the U.S. on air‑defence support, focusing on a licence to manufacture Patriot missiles on Ukrainian soil. Amid a surge of drone attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian leaders seek urgent upgrades to interceptors. The meeting follows Russia’s latest ballistic missile strikes and intensifies the broader geopolitical focus on the war in Ukraine and the U.S. stance toward Iran. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu share the White House to attend a Ukrainian funeral and underscore ties between the two allies. The discussions underscore the drive to secure sustainable defence assistance for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s president has arrived in Washington at a pivotal point in the Russia‑Ukraine conflict, demanding the United States commit to a licence that would allow Kyiv to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors on its own soil. The request comes amid a surge of drone strikes on Kyiv, with Moscow’s air attacks intensifying recently.
During his visits, Zelenskiy will break for an audience with President Donald Trump and ask for a firm pledge that the U.S. will provide the technology and support needed to build PAC‑2 and PAC‑3 interceptors locally. The proposed licence would move beyond the U.S. provision of hardware to a full partnership in production – a step that would require a lengthy political, legal and technical process.
In parallel, Ukrainian officials have reported that nearly 400 unmanned aerial vehicles were launched toward the capital over a 12‑hour window, with most intercepted by air defences. Zolozhie footage confirmed damage to a high‑rise in Chekhov and a warehouse fire in Berezhki, though officials said no casualties were reported.
Following the talk with President Trump, President Zelenskiy will join Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a separate meeting at the White House. The two leaders convened to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, underscoring the growing diplomatic ties across the Atlantic.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin accused the West of using “terrorist methods” against civilians who opposed the war while insisting Russia would prevail. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that a freeze in the conflict was currently impossible, citing Ukraine's position at the centre.
Zelenskiy’s request for Patriot missiles comes as other global defence purchases by Ukraine touch on citizens’ safety. Earlier this week, Ukrainian forces targeted a cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, highlighting the broad reach of the conflict’s ripple effects. The U.S. has indicated it will investigate claims of intelligence sharing between Russia and Tehran that could threaten U.S. facilities and Gulf states.
