Zelensky to press Trump on air defences while in Washington

What the report says

BBC World News reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House, seeking firmer US commitments on air defence as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian cities. According to the BBC, Zelensky is expected to focus on support Trump gave earlier this month for Ukraine to receive a licence to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, which Kyiv says are urgently needed against ballistic missile strikes.

The BBC says Patriot systems and interceptors remain a top Ukrainian priority but are scarce after heavy demand linked to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The article notes that turning a licensing pledge into Ukrainian co-production of PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors would require a complex political, legal and technical process. Zelensky said a recent visit to Kyiv by representatives of US manufacturer Raytheon indicated readiness to deepen cooperation.

The Washington visit comes amid wider tensions. The BBC reports that Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 390 Ukrainian drones targeted the Russian capital region overnight, with most intercepted. BBC Verify confirmed footage showing damage to a high-rise building in Chekhov and a warehouse fire west of Moscow; local officials in Chekhov reported no casualties. The report also says Ukraine has recently struck Russian logistics hubs, including warehouses linked to Wildberries.

Trump is also due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with both Netanyahu and Zelensky in Washington for Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral. The BBC adds that Zelensky has accused Iran of helping Russia and claimed Ukrainian intelligence indicates Russia shared satellite imagery with Tehran, while Trump said he would ask Vladimir Putin about the allegation.