Zelenskyy thanks Trump for focus on strengthening Ukraine's air defence, says talks aimed at "bringing peace closer"
Ankara, July 9
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said he held a "good meeting" with US President Donald Trump and his team on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, with discussions focused on strengthening Ukraine's air defence capabilities and efforts to advance peace talks.
In a post shared on X, Zelenskyy said, "Good meeting with President Trump @POTUS and his team. I'm grateful for the strong emphasis placed on strengthening Ukraine's air defense to better protect people's lives."
"President Trump and I spoke about some ideas that could strengthen our positions and bring peace closer. I count on our teams to follow up promptly on everything discussed today," he added.
Zelenskyy said the two leaders also discussed diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
"We also talked diplomacy - we are trying to make it work. We will keep working productively to make it happen. Thank you!" he said.
The meeting took place during the NATO Summit in Ankara, where Trump held a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy.
Trump said the United States would provide Ukraine with the capability to manufacture its own Patriot missile defence systems. Currently, Japan and Germany are the only countries that hold licences to produce the systems, CNN reported.
Trump said strengthening Ukraine's capabilities could help create conditions for negotiations to end the war.
"An escalation could help create the space now to negotiate the end of this war," Trump was quoted by CNN as saying, while referring to Ukraine's increasing ability to conduct strikes deep inside Russia.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump and the United States for continued support and has been urging allies to provide additional air defence missiles to counter Russian attacks, according to CNN.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy also said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin's conditions for ending the war were changing, CNN reported.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Zelenskyy's optimism is understandable but the focus should be on diplomacy, not weapons escalation. Trump saying "escalation could help create space for negotiations" sounds contradictory. India has always advocated for dialogue, not more weapons. Peace talks need trust, not missiles. 🤔
So, Trump is now championing air defence while his earlier statements suggested he wanted to cut aid? Make up your mind, America. Meanwhile, Russia-Ukraine war keeps draining global resources. India must stay neutral and push for peace, like we've always done. Anyway, kudos to Zelenskyy for keeping spirits high.
The real question is: will this new air defence technology actually protect civilians or just be another escalation tool? India's diplomatic balancing act between West and Russia looks smarter everyday. We should learn from this: self-reliance in defence is crucial. Atmanirbhar Bharat for a reason! 😤
As someone from the US, I'm glad Trump is continuing support, but the focus on 'manufacturing Patriot systems' seems like a slow process. Ukraine needs immediate aid, not long-term industrial transfers. However, the meeting in Ankara shows NATO's commitment. Let's hope diplomacy actually works this time.
Interesting that Putin's conditions for peace are supposedly changing, per Zelenskyy. But actions speak louder than words. India should continue its message of 'this is not an era of war.' Every life lost is a tragedy, whether in Kyiv or Gaza. Peace is the only sustainable path. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.