Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 5, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleZelenskiy called his latest conversation with Trump the most productive, discussing air defense and the need for Patriot missiles amid intensified Russian attacks.
(Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that his latest conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump this week was the best and "most productive" he has had to date.
"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," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.
"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."
Zelenskiy said the two leaders had discussed "several other important matters" that officials from the two sides would be considering in forthcoming meetings.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he had a good call with Zelenskiy and restated his disappointment at a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin over what he said was Moscow's lack of willingness to work toward a ceasefire.
Asked whether the United States would agree to supply more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, as requested by Zelenskiy, Trump said: "They're going to need them for defense... They're going to need something because they're being hit pretty hard."
Russia has intensified air attacks on Kyiv and other cities in recent weeks. Moscow's forces launched the largest drone attack of the 40-month-old war on the Ukrainian capital hours after Trump's conversation with Putin on Thursday.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksander Kozhukhar; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft)
Zelenskiy described his latest conversation with Trump as the best and most productive he has had to date.
The leaders discussed air defense issues, including the Patriot missile system, and several other important matters for future meetings.
Trump indicated that Ukraine would need more defense support, specifically mentioning the need for Patriot missiles.
Russia has intensified air attacks on Kyiv and other cities, launching the largest drone attack of the war shortly after Trump's conversation with Zelenskiy.
Trump expressed disappointment regarding his conversation with Putin, citing Moscow's lack of willingness to cooperate.
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