Trump Invites Zelenskiy for Talks in Washington

President Trump has extended an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to visit Washington this week, as confirmed by the Post, following the conclusion of the Gaza war.

Olha Stefanishina, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, confirmed to the Post that Zelenskiy had received an “official invitation” to come to the U.S. for discussions, although specific details regarding the date of the meeting were not disclosed. However, several media reports suggest the meeting is likely to occur on Friday.

This invitation follows a series of phone calls between the two leaders on Saturday and Sunday, with Zelenskiy announcing the developments in a post on X.

“We agreed on several topics for discussion that will address all aspects of the situation—including the defense of our nation, bolstering our air defense capabilities, and enhancing our resilience,” Zelenskiy stated. “The discussions also touched on various details related to the energy sector.”

In a Sunday interview with Fox News, President Zelenskiy urged for the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles, which would enable strikes on military targets deep within Russia.

During this briefing, Zelenskiy remarked on how the recent peace deal between Israel and Hamas offered a glimmer of “hope” but also made Ukraine’s struggle “more complicated.” He continued, “I think we need two key initiatives to effectively pressure President Putin. First, we must secure real air defense systems, and second, we require long-range capabilities.”

Amid all this, Ukraine has been focusing on disrupting Russia’s energy sector, which is seen as a fundamental financial lifeline for Russia’s war efforts. These strikes are reportedly increasing pressure on the Russian economy.

Additionally, President Trump has been instrumental in efforts to limit the Kremlin’s spending on the war. European leaders have recently called for a stop to the import of Russian oil.

The Kremlin, for its part, has intensified its assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as Kiev seeks alternatives to acquire energy supplies from the U.S. ahead of the harsh winter months.

This upcoming meeting will mark the first face-to-face interaction between Trump and Zelenskiy since their encounter at the United Nations General Assembly last month, where Trump expressed a newfound perspective on the war in Ukraine, labeling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “paper tiger.”

“President Trump is quite informed about the current situation,” Zelenskiy commented. “We have agreed to keep the communication open, and our team is preparing for this meeting. Thank you!”

Notably, Zelenskiy last visited Trump at the White House on August 18, 2025.