Trump, Zelenskyy Set for Friday Meeting in Washington to Deepen Defense Cooperation
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Friday, October 17.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Trump's interview with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Washington.
The U.S. president said he expects the meeting to take place at the White House, adding, “I think so,” when asked directly about hosting Zelenskyy.
The Ukrainian president had earlier announced his intention to travel to the United States this week, saying during a joint press conference with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Kyiv that he would meet Trump to “discuss key steps toward peace and further defense cooperation.”
Ahead of the meeting, a high-level Ukrainian delegation, led by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, has already arrived in Washington for a week of consultations with U.S. counterparts.
Zelenskyy said his discussions with Trump will center on practical measures to achieve a “just peace,” as well as cooperation on energy resilience and defense industry ties.
He also plans to meet with members of Congress, defense companies, and U.S. energy firms, noting that the latter was a suggestion made personally by President Trump.
“The talks will focus on air defense and long-range capabilities – essential elements to pressure Russia into peace,” Zelenskyy said, expressing gratitude for the continued dialogue and U.S. support.
According to Financial Times journalist Christopher Miller, who first reported on the planned meeting, this will be the leaders’ second in-person encounter in less than a month. They last met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in late September.
The upcoming talks follow two recent phone conversations between Trump and Zelenskyy focused on U.S. military support, including the potential supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The meeting is expected to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s defense and explore concrete steps to enhance its ability to withstand ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes.
As The Gaze previously informed, amidst the resolution of the conflict in Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump asked U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East Steven Witkoff to focus on resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war.