Whitaker Meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Stresses Need to End ‘Senseless War’ Through Diplomacy
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker made his first official visit to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal to discuss Ukraine’s urgent defense needs ahead of winter.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Whitaker’s post on social media platform X.
Whitaker arrived at the head of a NATO delegation focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and energy infrastructure protection.
Following the meeting, he emphasized that discussions centered on ensuring timely delivery of key systems, including Patriot air defense units and PAC-3 and PAC-2 missiles.
“I want to make sure everything is working, that the military receives all it needs, and that Patriots and their missiles arrive as quickly as possible so you can protect critical infrastructure as winter approaches,” Whitaker said.
During the talks, President Zelenskyy thanked the NATO delegation for their presence in Kyiv, calling it “a powerful symbol of support” and highlighting Ukraine’s reliance on NATO partners at a decisive stage of the war.
The discussions also touched on reinforcing Ukraine’s air capabilities and expanding cooperation on the protection of the country’s energy grid.
Whitaker confirmed that coordination continues on new NATO assistance packages for November and December, tailored to Ukraine’s battlefield and infrastructure needs.
The ambassador also reiterated his belief that the war must end through diplomacy, describing “peace achieved through President Trump’s efforts” as the only viable path forward.
“Good to see the Ukrainian President again – this time in Kyiv. I conveyed that this senseless war must end, and that peace – led by President Trump’s efforts – is the only viable path forward,” Whitaker added.
Zelenskyy urged continued transatlantic unity to maintain pressure on Russia and compel it to end its aggression.
For his part, Defense Minister Shmyhal noted that Ukraine presented detailed assessments of its winter defense priorities prepared by the General Staff and Military Intelligence.
“We stressed to our partners the importance of layered air defense – additional interceptor drones, radars, and missile supplies,” he wrote on social media, adding his gratitude for NATO’s involvement in the PURL initiative, which coordinates partner support.
Earlier, Whitaker said that the final decision on supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine rests with U.S. President Donald Trump.
As The Gaze previously reported, in an exclusive interview with UATV English, U.S. policy expert, Doug Klain, has argued that bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities is not merely a moral obligation, but a strategic necessity that directly serves American interests.