According to reports, President Trump held a closed-door meeting with visiting Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House on the morning of the 28th, lasting over an hour. Zelensky said they discussed licensing for the production of Patriot air defense system interceptors. The visit came as both Russia and Ukraine ramp up long-range strikes against each other, and US-led diplomatic efforts have stalled, with Ukraine seeking further American support.
On July 28, President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky held a meeting at the White House.
This was the second meeting between the two leaders this month. They had previously met on July 8 during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump said he would authorize Ukraine to produce the Patriot air defense system. During this visit, Zelensky also held talks on the 28th with the leadership of Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the Patriot system.
Additionally, the US Senate held a procedural vote on the 28th for a Russia sanctions bill. The bill proposes imposing a 100% secondary tariff on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. According to reports, since the House of Representatives is in recess, the bill is not expected to be reviewed until September, and it remains controversial among both parties in Congress. Furthermore, according to congressional sources, a $400 million military aid package for Ukraine in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act has been stalled since its approval and may not be released until the 2029 fiscal year. Reports also indicate that the US president’s special envoy, Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Kushner, may visit Kyiv in the coming weeks, with a subsequent trip to Moscow expected.
Russian media reported on the 29th that although the US is exploring the possibility of restarting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Ukraine has not shown a willingness to de-escalate. Zelensky’s visit to the US to lobby for further sanctions against Russia comes as Ukraine continues to expand its “terrorist attacks” on targets within Russia. According to Russian news sources, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Chernyshov, stated that Zelensky’s visit to the US is a PR stunt aimed at delaying the peace process by securing weapons like Patriot missiles. Russian business daily reported that even if the US sanctions bill against Russia eventually passes, it may not be quickly implemented, and the US might only use it as a tool to pressure Russia.