Trump, Zelenskiy Discuss Air Defences Amid Russian Strikes

Trump and Zelenskiy meet at NATO summit in The Hague, June 2025.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed strengthening air defences during a call with US President Donald Trump on Friday, as Russian attacks continue to escalate across the country.

Zelenskiy stated via Telegram that the conversation also covered joint defence production, military purchases, and investment cooperation between Ukraine and the United States.

Kyiv has repeatedly urged Washington to supply more Patriot missile systems, which it considers essential for protecting major cities from increasingly frequent Russian air assaults.

The discussion followed recent concerns in Ukraine over a temporary halt in US arms shipments, which officials in Kyiv warned could severely impact their ability to defend against both aerial attacks and battlefield advances. In response, Germany has entered talks to acquire additional Patriot systems to help close the defence gap.

The phone call came one day after President Trump described his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin as "disappointing." Just hours later, Russia launched the largest drone attack on Kyiv since the start of the war, striking multiple locations across the capital.

Zelenskiy condemned the assault, calling it “deliberately massive and cynical.”

Trump also spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday. According to government sources, the two leaders discussed Ukraine's security situation—particularly air defence—alongside bilateral trade issues.