WASHINGTON/KYIV: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, the White House confirmed on Friday, as diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine gain renewed momentum.
A White House official confirmed the planned meeting, while a Ukrainian source said Zelenskiy was prepared to travel to the United States but had been awaiting final confirmation of President Trump’s schedule.
According to the source, Ukrainian and U.S. officials have been discussing a proposal for an air ceasefire that could be presented to Russian officials as part of a fresh round of peace initiatives aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The source noted that Ukraine had previously proposed ceasefires to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but those offers were rejected. However, some officials believe sustained Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian infrastructure have increased economic pressure on Moscow and could influence Russia’s negotiating position.
Earlier this week, President Zelenskiy held talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding the prospects for renewed peace negotiations with Russia. He said Ukrainian and American officials could meet in the United States in the coming days.
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Meanwhile, Acting Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said he and Ukraine’s new Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi met U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker in Kyiv on Friday to discuss battlefield developments and military cooperation.
“We have a strong synergy and shared vision of the war, focusing on technological superiority, asymmetric solutions, and expanding Ukraine’s ability to defeat the enemy,” Khmara said in a statement posted on Telegram.
Earlier on Friday, conservative political activist Laura Loomer, a close ally of President Trump, said she interviewed Zelenskiy, who indicated he was likely to visit the United States next week. According to Loomer, Zelenskiy also plans to attend the memorial service for late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, scheduled for Tuesday in Washington.
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The Trump-Zelenskiy meeting is expected to focus on the Ukraine war, security cooperation, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement.
