WASHINGTON () Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had an “important and fruitful” conversation with President Donald Trump Friday, a day after Trump voiced frustration about talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin which yielded no breakthrough on efforts to end the war.
“President Trump is very well informed, and I thank him for his attention to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote on X following the 40-minute call. “We support all efforts to stop the killings and restore just, lasting, and dignified peace. A noble agreement for peace is needed.”
Trump and Zelenskyy also spoke about the U.S. decision to abruptly halt the delivery of key air defense missiles and other weapons to Ukraine. The two leaders agreed that they would work together to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, according to Zelenskyy.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kyiv had previously warned the delays in interceptors would “encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace,” while Washington has defended the move as putting America’s “interests first.” The Kremlin, for its part, applauded the U.S. reducing its supplies to Ukraine, claiming the shift could help bring a speedy end to the war.
Trump, however, indicated last week at the NATO summit in The Hague that he is not ruling out the possibility of providing further military aid to Ukraine nor sending the country a new batch of Patriot air-defense missiles.
The latest discussions come at a perilous juncture for Ukraine. Overnight into Friday, Russian forces pummeled cities across Ukraine in their largest aerial assault of the war. A record 550 Russian drones and missiles were launched at the capital during what Zelenskyy described as a “brutal, sleepless night.”
At least one person has been killed and dozens were reported injured, Ukrainian officials said.
Trump – who has boasted of his “very, very good relationship” with the Kremlin leader and promised during last year’s presidential campaign to end the Russia-Ukraine war on his first day in office – has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin six months into his term.
“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had [Thursday] with President Putin, because I don’t think he’s there, and I’m very disappointed,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”
