▲ President Zelenskyy and President Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he had a "good meeting" with U.S. President Donald Trump after holding talks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on the 28th local time.
Taking to social media that day, he stated, "I discussed with President Trump a license to produce Patriot interceptor missiles and several other ways that could be helpful," making the remarks.
President Trump previously promised to grant a production license for Patriot interceptor missiles when he met with President Zelenskyy on the 8th in Ankara, Turkey, on the sidelines of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.
President Zelenskyy met with a vice president and other executives of the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon on the 24th to begin discussions on the joint production of Patriot missiles.
President Zelenskyy emphasized, "We also discussed diplomatic issues (with President Trump), and agreed that it is important to breathe new life back into the diplomatic process."
He added, "Working-level teams from both sides will coordinate the details for future communication."
The two leaders are believed to have discussed plans to resume peace negotiations with Russia, which had been suspended following U.S. strikes on Iran in February.
The summit between the two sides on this day took place amid assessments that President Trump has shifted back to a friendly stance toward Ukraine.
After President Trump promised a Patriot production license to Ukraine, a change in atmosphere was also detected within the MAGA (Make America Great Again) camp, as prominent U.S. far-right political commentator Laura Loomer also shifted toward a friendly stance on Ukraine.
On the 23rd, President Trump shared a video of Laura Loomer's interview with President Zelenskyy on social media and chimed in, saying, "Very good."
President Trump had frequently clashed with President Zelenskyy in the past while highlighting his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The summit in Washington, D.C., on this day also drew attention because it was held as the war dynamics between the U.S. and Iran became more complicated following Ukraine's attack on an Iranian merchant ship on the 25th.
Amid the war, Ukraine has strongly asserted suspicions of a close alliance between Russia and Iran, criticizing both sides together.
Even from Iran's perspective, Ukraine—which has been passing on drone interception technology to Gulf countries since the Middle East crisis—is an uncomfortable presence.
Prior to the meeting, President Zelenskyy expressed high expectations for the summit, stating, "A meeting with President Trump, his team, and individuals who can support our defense is included in the schedule."
On the same day the U.S.-Ukraine summit was held, Russia stated that it attacked a Ukrainian vessel near Mykolaiv on Ukraine's Black Sea coast.
According to regional Russian authorities, Ukraine launched more than 390 drones at Moscow overnight.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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