On July 28, President Trump met with Ukraine’s President Zelensky at the White House to discuss the Russia-Ukraine peace process. A White House official said the talks would focus on ending the conflict. Zelensky shared that he hopes the visit will secure continued US support. This is their first Washington meeting since last October, and Trump’s tone toward Zelensky has reportedly shifted from criticism to praise, according to sources close to the White House.
On July 28, President Trump hosted Ukraine’s President Zelensky at the White House.
Discussing the Ukraine-Russia Peace Process
“The US believes now is the time to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” a White House official told CNN on July 28, noting that Trump would discuss peace efforts with Zelensky. This marks the first time the two leaders have met in Washington since October of last year.
AFP reported that the visit comes as both Kyiv and Moscow ramp up long-range strikes, and Washington’s mediation efforts have stalled. Before the trip, Zelensky said he hopes Washington will “continue supporting Ukraine and help us end the war with a dignified peace.” Since returning to the White House last January, Trump has largely halted direct US weapons deliveries to Kyiv. The New York Times noted that Zelensky will push for more military aid, especially air defense systems.
Ukrainian officials revealed to Interfax-Ukraine that they have discussed a proposal with the US to halt aerial attacks and plan to present it to Russia as part of a new peace initiative. They believe Ukraine’s increasingly deep strikes into Russian territory may be pressuring Moscow to reconsider its stance.
Russia has denied this. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters on July 27 that reports of a potential air ceasefire deal between Zelensky and Trump are “media speculation” with no factual basis. He stressed that no new concrete proposals or initiatives for mediation exist at this time.
A Notable Shift in Fortunes
After meeting with Trump, Zelensky is scheduled to attend the funeral of Senator Graham in Washington, a staunch supporter of Ukraine who visited Kyiv shortly before his death.
The Kyiv Post reported that Zelensky will meet with the entire US Senate on July 28. While such meetings aren’t unprecedented, the political climate has changed dramatically. This comes as Trump’s stance toward both Kyiv and Moscow evolves. The Council on Foreign Relations noted that the meeting aims to restart stalled peace talks.
Sources close to the White House told the Wall Street Journal that Trump has recently expressed newfound optimism about Ukraine and Zelensky. They said Zelensky’s resilience—pushing the fight deep into Russian territory—has impressed Trump. For Zelensky, this is a remarkable turnaround. His relationship with Trump was once on the brink of irreparable collapse.
“Can Trump and Zelensky thaw their relationship?” the New York Times asked on July 28. Both leaders face domestic challenges: Zelensky is dealing with the fallout from firing his military chief and defense minister, while Trump, stuck in a stalemate over US-Iran talks, needs a diplomatic win elsewhere. Analyst Harry Nedelcu of Rasmussen Global said, “Crucially, this is a moment they can exploit each other.”
Russia Announces Troop Expansion
The Russian military continues striking Ukrainian ports and naval vessels, according to Russia’s Gazeta.ru. Drones reportedly hit two Ukrainian cargo ships unloading military supplies in the port of Mykolaiv.
Ukraine’s Kyiv Independent reported that Ukrainian drone units struck 14 energy facilities in Crimea over the past three days, causing widespread blackouts. Additionally, Russia’s Sputnik reported that over 390 Ukrainian drones targeted the Moscow region from the night of July 27 into July 28, most intercepted in the outskirts.
Russia has repeatedly stated its willingness to negotiate on Ukraine, but claims Kyiv is not inclined toward peace, as reported by RIA Novosti. TASS noted that given Kyiv’s stance and its growing military cooperation with Europe, the possibility of freezing the conflict is virtually nonexistent.
In a related development, Russian President Putin signed a decree on July 27 to form several military construction units and increase the total strength of the armed forces to over 2.42 million, including 1.535 million active-duty personnel. The new order takes effect on August 1.