Zelensky Hails ‘Most Productive’ Call With Trump
President Volodymyr Zelensky has described his Friday phone call with US President Donald Trump as “probably the best conversation we have had” and “the most productive.”
Zelensky said soon after the call that the two addressed air defenses and joint arms production without referring to the recent arms halt. The call took place after Trump said he’s “disappointed” by his call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin a day prior.
Zelensky, in his Saturday evening video address, hinted at his progress with Trump from the previous day.
“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,” he said.
He then thanked the US for its “willingness to help” bolster Kyiv’s air defenses, following a major Russian attack that wreaked havoc on the capital a day earlier.
“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,” Zelensky said.
Trump previously said he would look into the issue at the NATO summit in The Hague, after Kyiv had appealed for more supplies for months.
The two have been at odds occasionally, with Trump publicly belittling Zelensky for not being thankful for US aid.
Trump has previously accused Kyiv – alongside his predecessor Joe Biden – of starting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Moscow’s recent openness to reject his peace mediation efforts, after continuously and creatively brushing off his ceasefire offer, has seemingly finally irked the US president.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after Trump’s Thursday call with Putin that the Russian leader would not back down from his war goals.
Trump later hinted at more sanctions on Moscow with no further details.
Source: Leo Chiu