The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the United States this Tuesday for a meeting with Donald Trump at the White House and to attend the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away on July 11 after returning from a trip to Kiev.
Zelensky himself confirmed his arrival on social media in the early hours of the morning: "Our number one priority is ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with the United States. Peace needs to draw closer."
The meeting at the White House, scheduled for 9:30 a.m., began shortly after 9:45 a.m. and was closed to the media, according to a spokesperson for the Ukrainian president.
The contrast with the first meeting between the two leaders could not be greater. That tense clash in the Oval Office in February 2025 ended with the press conference canceled, the Ukrainian delegation leaving without an agreement, and Trump warning Zelenski that he had no "cards" and that he was "playing with World War III."
Since then, the relationship has evolved significantly. Analysts consulted by the newspaper The New York Times describe a change in attitude in both leaders.
«There is better chemistry between them now. Perhaps Zelenski understands Trump a little better. Perhaps Trump understands Zelenski a little better,» noted Volodimir Dubovik, director of the Center for International Studies at the National University of Odessa.
On the agenda for this Tuesday were the reinforcement of Ukraine's anti-ballistic capabilities, the possibility of a ceasefire during long-range airstrikes, and the revitalization of stalled peace negotiations.
As a sign of prior engagement, Trump authorized in July for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors—the only system capable of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles—although ramping up that production will take years.
The military context is urgent: Russia fired 117 ballistic missiles at Ukrainian cities just in July, up until Monday, a figure that approaches a monthly record according to data from the Ukrainian Air Force collected by the NYT.
The visit comes just days after Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea. Zelenski stated that the vessel was transporting military supplies between Iran and Russia; Tehran denied this, describing the ship as commercial and threatened retaliation. The episode highlights the increasing interconnectedness between the Ukrainian conflict and the United States' war against Iran.
Harry Nedelcu, senior director at Rasmussen Global, noted that both leaders have incentives to reach an understanding: "This is a moment when they can mutually validate their diplomatic efforts. Trump can lean on Zelenski, and Zelenski can help him validate his own administration at a time when Trump is not in his best domestic situation."
Zelensky also dedicated words to the senator Graham, whose sudden death shocked Washington: "On behalf of all of Ukraine, we will honor his memory. We will remember his commitment to security and freedom in the transatlantic community and around the world."
Graham was considered the greatest defender of Ukraine within Trump's circle, in an environment that has historically echoed pro-Russian arguments. Some analysts speculate that his absence could, paradoxically, push Trump to be more receptive to Kiev.
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