Zelenskyy, Trump Envoy Kellogg Discuss Defense Cooperation and Peace Efforts in Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Kyiv on Thursday with Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, to discuss military cooperation, sanctions policy, and preparations for upcoming international events.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Zelenskyy’s post on social media platform X.
According to Zelenskyy, the talks focused on expanding defense collaboration, including projects under the PURL initiative to finance the production and acquisition of Patriot missile systems, as well as bilateral agreements on the joint development of drones and other weapons.
“We had a substantive discussion on stepping up pressure on the Russians and what we can do together with partners in tariff and sanctions policy to enable a meeting at the leaders’ level at the earliest and bring this war to an end. A trilateral leaders’ format is undoubtedly the most effective,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The two also addressed humanitarian issues, including efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
“We also discussed the return of abducted Ukrainian children, international cooperation on this track, and the conditions in which our children are being held,” the President stated.
Zelenskyy said he expressed condolences over the killing of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and thanked Trump for his reaction to the murder of Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina.
He noted that preparations are underway for Ukraine’s participation in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month, highlighting planned events, coordination with the United States, and work within the “Coalition of the Willing.”
Kellogg’s visit comes amid a sharp escalation of Russian strikes across Ukraine, including on Kyiv. Media reports earlier this week said that Russian drone attacks on Polish territory occurred while Kellogg was en route to the region.
The retired U.S. general last visited Ukraine in late August, when he said negotiations on long-term security guarantees for Kyiv remained ongoing but “very challenging.”
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