Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington on Thursday and expressed his expectations for the positive impact the recent Middle East peace agreement could have on resolving the war with Russia.
The Ukrainian president traveled to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump on Friday, in a meeting focused on the possible supply of advanced weapons systems, such as long-range Tomahawk missiles, technology capable of hitting targets in Russian territory.
In a statement released on his social media account, Zelensky said:"A meeting with President Trump is planned for tomorrow and we hope to gain momentum to overcome terror and war, something that worked in the Middle East and will help end Russia's war against Ukraine."
Zelensky emphasized that the "strength and justice" demonstrated in resolving other conflicts provide a potential path to ending the invasion launched by Russia more than three and a half years ago.
The proposal to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine was one of the main points of discussion during a previous phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to reports released by both Trump's team and Russian spokespeople, Putin warned that providing these weapons would hinder any progress in peace talks. The two leaders agreed to hold another meeting, which could be held in Budapest, although a specific date was not revealed.
Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine has worsened in recent days due to a series of Russian attacks on energy and rail infrastructure, forcing the Kyiv government to impose scheduled power outages across the country amid falling nighttime temperatures. The bombing, which Ukrainian sources estimate coincides with an apparent stagnation in the Russian ground offensive, has also affected logistical capacity and the living conditions of the civilian population.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olga Stefanishyna condemned the Russian strikes, calling them a sign of “terror and exhaustion.” In a statement following the overnight attacks that partially shut down the power grid, Stefanishyna stressed: “Russia has once again chosen missiles over dialogue, turning this attack into a direct blow to the peace efforts led by President Trump.” The diplomat reiterated that the only effective response to Russia’s strategy is “pressure: tougher sanctions, reinforced air defenses, and the provision of long-range capabilities.”
Zelensky's visit to Washington includes meetings with representatives of the U.S. defense industry, seeking to expand military assistance beyond the Tomahawk systems. Among the topics to be discussed are agreements for the acquisition of new anti-aircraft systems to counter attacks on the country's critical infrastructure. The Ukrainian president emphasized:"We will meet with powerful weapons manufacturers that can strengthen our defenses, including suppliers of anti-aircraft systems."
Zelensky's trip and the ongoing negotiations are taking place in an uncertain diplomatic context, as multilateral talks to end the conflict have stalled over the past two months. Following the failed summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska on August 15, no significant progress was made toward reaching a negotiated solution.
During his stay in Washington, Zelensky also alluded to Trump's role in the recent international agreement that precipitated the cessation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas."Putin is certainly no braver than Hamas or any other terrorist," the Ukrainian president said on his Telegram channel, stressing that the methods that helped curb terrorism and war in the Middle East can be applied to the crisis in Ukraine. He also recalled that"peace and reliable security guarantees should have no alternatives, and are key to protecting lives from Russian attacks."
