Zelenskyy and Trump Met in Ankara: What the Presidents Discussed
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump held a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. The main topics of discussion were strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, the supply of missiles for the Patriot systems, the peace process, and continued military support for Ukraine.
The leaders were allotted about an hour for their talks. The meeting began after the conclusion of the North Atlantic Council session attended by the heads of state and government of NATO member countries.
Before the talks began, Zelenskyy stated that he wanted to discuss several important issues with Trump. “The main topics are air defense, the peace process, and the drone deal. There are important details we want to discuss,” said the Ukrainian president.
One of the key issues was Ukraine’s need for additional air defense capabilities. Zelenskyy emphasized that Kyiv is currently most interested in quickly obtaining missiles for the Patriot systems. “Today, it is important to find a way to obtain as many missiles for the Patriot systems as possible, as quickly as possible. This is the most important thing we will discuss. It is an urgent matter for us,” the head of state noted.
During the meeting, Trump stated that he and Zelenskyy had managed to build a good relationship. “We’ve developed a good relationship—from the Oval Office to the present,” said the U.S. president. When Zelenskyy replied that this was “not the end,” Trump said, “This is the beginning.” The U.S. president also stated that Ukraine has significant potential thanks to its territory, resources, and people.
Separately, the parties discussed the possibility of enhancing Ukraine’s long-range capabilities. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington is discussing the possibility of helping Ukraine strike targets at greater distances. “We are discussing the possibility of Ukraine striking deep into Russia,” Rubio said.
Trump called this a possible escalation, but added that such an escalation could help end the war. “This is an escalation. But it’s an escalation that could lead to the end of the war,” he said.
Trump also said that the U.S. might allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot systems using American technology. “A little birdie told me that we’ll give them the right to make Patriots; we’ll show them how to make them,” the U.S. president said.
Speaking about a possible end to the war, Trump noted that the negotiation process has been ongoing for a long time. He compared the situation to a conflict between two people and pointed out that sometimes unexpected solutions can emerge precisely during difficult moments. “I think they both want to reach an agreement. It’s a shame it’s taken so long. But I think something will happen; something will come of this,” Trump said, commenting on the possibility of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
Earlier, the U.S. president reported that he had spoken by phone with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. According to him, he is seeking an end to the war, as it remains extremely brutal and claims lives every day. After meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump was scheduled to hold talks with other leaders and conclude his participation in the NATO summit with a press conference.
Ukraine has decided to reject U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the war with Russia and is seeking to reach a new agreement due to the changing situation on the battlefield.
