Ukraine’s Zelenskyy hails ‘good meeting’ with Trump at White House

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing its staff and Reuters, reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described talks with United States President Donald Trump at the White House as a “good meeting.” The Oval Office discussion took place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and Zelenskyy thanked Trump afterward for cooperation aimed at protecting Ukrainians and pursuing peace. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that Trump’s meetings that day, including one with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were “positive and productive.”

According to the report, one focus of the closed-door meeting was Ukraine’s effort to obtain licences to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles domestically. Trump had earlier this month approved joint production of the interceptors, which Al Jazeera described as central to Ukraine’s defence against Russian air attacks. Zelenskyy also said the leaders discussed restarting diplomatic efforts to end the war, now more than four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The visit came as Zelenskyy was in the US for the funeral service of Senator Lindsey Graham. He was also expected to meet Finnish President Alexander Stubb and a bipartisan group of senators while the Senate prepared an initial vote on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Act on Russia and Iran. Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s top priority was anti-ballistic defence and strategic cooperation with Washington.

Al Jazeera framed the meeting as another sign of improving ties after a public clash between Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelenskyy in February 2025. The report also noted that new US military aid has been reduced, making European support increasingly important, while Washington continues to play a mediating role.