WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for US military support Friday after speaking on the phone with President Trump following one of the heaviest Russian drone attacks on Kyiv.
Zelensky, who was thrown out of the White House in February for allegedly being ungrateful during a meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, lost access to new shipments of some American-made defensive weapons Tuesday, with the Pentagon saying its stocks were running too low.
“I had a very important and fruitful conversation with [Trump],” Zelensky posted on X, expressly offering his thanks for about $185 billion in US taxpayer resources to fend off Russia’s more than three-year-old invasion.
“We — in Ukraine — are grateful for all the support provided. It helps us protect lives, safeguard our freedom and independence. We have achieved a lot together with America and we support all efforts to stop the killings and restore just, lasting, and dignified peace.”
Zelensky went on: “A noble agreement for peace is needed. Today we discussed the current situation, including Russian airstrikes and the broader frontline developments. President Trump is very well informed, and I thank him for his attention to Ukraine.”
The 47-year-old went on that the discussion included “opportunities in air defense and [we] agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies” and “had a detailed conversation about defense industry capabilities and joint production.”
Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and expressed pessimism about the prospects of peace afterward.
“I didn’t make any progress with him today at all,” Trump told reporters ahead of a pre-July 4 event in Iowa.
Hours later, the Russian military hit Kyiv with a heavy bombardment.
Ukraine’s air force said the overnight attack included 539 drones and 11 missiles — injuring 23 people and killing one, Reuters reported — with the limited ground carnage a testament to the nation’s Western-provided air defense systems.
The Pentagon’s just-announced curtailment of weapons will deny Ukraine further shipments of Patriot missiles that can shoot down incoming rockets as well as AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles and short-range Stinger missiles that can take down drones.
Trump has attempted to force both Zelensky and Putin to the negotiating table with personal attacks and threats to cut aid or heaping on new sanctions, respectively, but has been unable to reach an end to the fighting.
Last month Trump likened the leaders to children fighting and said “sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.”
With Post wires
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