Trump Signals Zelenskyy Meeting in The Hague: Air Defenses, Sanctions, and Strategy on Agenda
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is likely to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during this week’s NATO summit in The Hague.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Reuters.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that a meeting with Zelenskyy would “probably” take place.
Earlier the same day, a White House official confirmed that such a meeting is scheduled during the two-day NATO summit.
The announcement follows Trump’s abrupt decision last week to skip a planned meeting with Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Canada, citing the need to address the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
Zelenskyy, for his part, welcomed the renewed possibility of a meeting, telling Sky News that Ukrainian and U.S. teams are working to finalize the details.
“Yes, I’m planning to meet Trump. I don’t know how it will go, I’ll be honest. The teams are working on the timing. Yes, we intend to meet,” he said.
In comments released earlier by his office, Zelenskyy identified three key priorities for any discussion with Trump: securing access to the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense systems, advocating for stricter sanctions on Russia, and advancing diplomatic strategies to pressure the Kremlin.
During the G7 summit, Zelenskyy’s aides handed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent a detailed list of requested weapons, with the Patriot systems reportedly topping the list.
The Ukrainian president emphasized that Kyiv is not seeking the systems as aid, but is prepared to finance the entire package independently.
“We are ready to find the money for this whole package,” Zelenskyy said, describing the request as “a very large amount” but necessary for Ukraine’s long-term defense.
Zelenskyy also made clear his expectations of the U.S. president, amid ongoing speculation about Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There are mixed signals about that,” he said. “But I am confident that President Trump understands Ukrainians are America’s allies. Russia is the true existential enemy of the United States. They may cooperate temporarily but they will never be real friends.”
The meeting, if it proceeds, could mark a critical moment in Kyiv’s efforts to secure advanced air defenses and deepen its strategic alignment with Washington.
Read more on The Gaze: NATO Summit 2025: Will the Alliance Stand with Ukraine?