Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that his latest phone call with United States President Donald Trump was the best and “most productive” they’ve had so far.
“Regarding the conversation with the president of the United States, which took place a day earlier, it was probably the best conversation we have had during this whole time, the most productive,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
“We discussed air defence issues and I’m grateful for the willingness to help. The Patriot system is precisely the key to protection against ballistic threats.”
Zelenskyy said the two leaders had discussed “several other important matters” that officials from the two sides would be considering in forthcoming meetings.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he had a good call with Zelenskyy and restated his disappointment at a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin over what he said was Moscow’s lack of willingness to work toward a ceasefire.
Patriot Missiles
Asked whether the United States would agree to supply more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, as requested by Zelenskyy, Trump said: “They’re going to need them for defence… They’re going to need something because they’re being hit pretty hard.”
Trump touted the efficacy of the Patriot missiles, calling the weapon “pretty amazing.”
Asked about the prospects for a ceasefire, Trump said, “It’s a very tough situation… I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people – it’s no good.”
Zelenskyy said he had agreed to work on increasing Kyiv’s capability to “defend the sky” as Russian attacks escalate, adding in a message on Telegram that he discussed joint defence production, as well as joint purchases and investments with the U.S. leader.
Ukraine has been asking Washington to sell it more Patriot missiles and systems that it sees as key to defending its cities from intensifying Russian air strikes.
A decision by Washington to halt some shipments of weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia’s airstrikes and battlefield advances.
Russia has intensified air attacks on Kyiv and other cities in recent weeks. Moscow’s forces launched the largest drone attack of the 40-month-old war on the Ukrainian capital hours after Trump’s conversation with Putin on Thursday.
(With inputs from Reuters)
