Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy discuss US weapons for Ukrainian defence
He said in a message on Telegram he discussed joint defence production, as well as joint purchases and investments, with Donald Trump on Friday.
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.
Kyiv had warned that a decision by Washington to halt some shipments of weapons to Ukraine would weaken its ability to defend against Russia's strikes and battlefield advances.
Germany said it was in talks to buy Patriot air defence systems to bridge the gap.
One source briefed on the call said they were optimistic that supplies of Patriot missiles could resume after what they called a "very good" conversation between the presidents.
US outlet Axios, citing unnamed sources, reported the call lasted about 40 minutes, and that Mr Trump told Mr Zelenskyy he would check what US weapons due to be sent to Ukraine, if any, had been put on hold.
Mr Zelenskyy, speaking later in his nightly video address, said he and Mr Trump agreed to "arrange a meeting between our teams to strengthen air defences".
"We had a very detailed discussion on joint production. We need it, America needs it," he said.
The conversation came a day after Mr Trump said he had a disappointing call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war hours after Mr Trump's conversation with Mr Putin on Thursday.
Mr Zelenskyy called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical".
Mr Trump spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, according to Spiegel magazine, citing government sources on Friday.
The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, including strengthening its air defences, as well as trade issues, Spiegel reported.
Kyiv previously received Patriot batteries and ammunition from the US in the form of aid under former president Joe Biden.
Mr Trump criticised Mr Biden for sending weapons to Ukraine without getting anything in return. Since taking office, he has overseen a dramatic shake-up of relations with Kyiv.
Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful Bill' a ‘mixed bag' amid deficit concerns
'Brad vs Everyone' podcast host Brad Polumbo weighs in on US President Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' describing the public response as a 'mixed bag'. 'One of the key things in the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' is an extension of Trump's signature tax cuts from his first term,' Mr Polumbo said. 'Because it does not make equivalent spending cuts to accompany the huge tax cuts, it is projected to add trillions of dollars to the deficit, which runs against a lot of the things that Trump and Republicans have campaigned on and promised. 'They are putting the usual rosy spin on it, but the truth is somewhere in the middle. It's a very mixed bag.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The Australia-first words that Sussan Ley says are a threat to the US relationship
But with Albanese now unable to secure a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump, even as the AUKUS defence pact is being reviewed by the Pentagon and Australia is lobbying for exemptions to US tariffs, Sussan Ley argued it was the wrong time to inch away from the US. 'At a time of global uncertainty, growing conflict and a growing list of issues in the Australia-United States relationship, now is a time to build our influence in Washington, not diminish it,' she said in a statement. 'Many Australians will wonder whether this speech at this time was in our national interest, given so many things crucial to Australia's future are currently being considered by the US administration.' The AUKUS defence pact is a trilateral agreement with the United States and United Kingdom that will allow Australia to acquire nuclear submarine capabilities. James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, said that since John Howard it was unusual for Australian prime ministers to speak positively about a more independent foreign policy not tied solely to US interests. Loading 'It's not entirely inconsistent with where Albanese has been headed,' Laurenceson said, pointing to remarks from Trade Minister Don Farrell about growing trade with China following Trump's tariffs. Laurenceson said Albanese would be confident that the Australian public was comfortable with his coming meeting with Xi occurring before a face-to-face with Trump, pointing to polling showing Trump's unpopularity in Australia. Coalition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said on Sky News on Sunday that 'it is embarrassing' Albanese had not yet met Trump. Sydney University international affairs historian James Curran said there was a contradiction in putting a spotlight on sovereignty at a time when Australia was tying itself more firmly into US military framework through the AUKUS submarine pact. He said Albanese's speech was significant because it came at a time when the US was pressuring allies to boost defence spending and contain a rising power in China. 'While it's not a new strategic doctrine, it is saying that there are times when Australia has to determine its own destiny,' Curran said. 'After the best part of two decades, in which the culture of the alliance has been awash in the sentimental claptrap of '100 years of mateship', it's not necessarily a bad thing for the loose cannons in the Trump administration – who are perhaps getting used to allies capitulating – to hear an Australian PM saying that, from time to time, Australia needs to express itself differently.' During the election campaign, Albanese and his ministers used Trump's haphazard approach to discredit the Peter Dutton-led Coalition, whose policy agenda and style had similarities with the US president's.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
The Australia-first words that Sussan Ley says are a threat to the US relationship
But with Albanese now unable to secure a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump, even as the AUKUS defence pact is being reviewed by the Pentagon and Australia is lobbying for exemptions to US tariffs, Sussan Ley argued it was the wrong time to inch away from the US. 'At a time of global uncertainty, growing conflict and a growing list of issues in the Australia-United States relationship, now is a time to build our influence in Washington, not diminish it,' she said in a statement. 'Many Australians will wonder whether this speech at this time was in our national interest, given so many things crucial to Australia's future are currently being considered by the US administration.' The AUKUS defence pact is a trilateral agreement with the United States and United Kingdom that will allow Australia to acquire nuclear submarine capabilities. James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, said that since John Howard it was unusual for Australian prime ministers to speak positively about a more independent foreign policy not tied solely to US interests. Loading 'It's not entirely inconsistent with where Albanese has been headed,' Laurenceson said, pointing to remarks from Trade Minister Don Farrell about growing trade with China following Trump's tariffs. Laurenceson said Albanese would be confident that the Australian public was comfortable with his coming meeting with Xi occurring before a face-to-face with Trump, pointing to polling showing Trump's unpopularity in Australia. Coalition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan said on Sky News on Sunday that 'it is embarrassing' Albanese had not yet met Trump. Sydney University international affairs historian James Curran said there was a contradiction in putting a spotlight on sovereignty at a time when Australia was tying itself more firmly into US military framework through the AUKUS submarine pact. He said Albanese's speech was significant because it came at a time when the US was pressuring allies to boost defence spending and contain a rising power in China. 'While it's not a new strategic doctrine, it is saying that there are times when Australia has to determine its own destiny,' Curran said. 'After the best part of two decades, in which the culture of the alliance has been awash in the sentimental claptrap of '100 years of mateship', it's not necessarily a bad thing for the loose cannons in the Trump administration – who are perhaps getting used to allies capitulating – to hear an Australian PM saying that, from time to time, Australia needs to express itself differently.' During the election campaign, Albanese and his ministers used Trump's haphazard approach to discredit the Peter Dutton-led Coalition, whose policy agenda and style had similarities with the US president's.
