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A meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump could take place as early
as Friday, the Ukrainian president said, adding that he also
would meet with defense and energy companies and members of
Congress.
“The main topics will be air defense and our long-range
capabilities, to maintain pressure on Russia,” Zelenskyy said.
He spoke at a meeting with EU High Representative for Foreign
Affairs Kaja Kallas. He said he also would seek further U.S.
assistance to protect Ukraine’s electricity and gas networks,
which have faced relentless Russian bombardment. The U.S. visit
follows what Zelenskyy described as a “very productive” phone
call with Trump on Sunday. Trump later warned Russia that he may
send Ukraine long-range Tomahawk missiles if Moscow doesn’t
settle its war there soon. The missiles would allow Ukraine to
strike deeper into Russian territory.
Moscow has expressed “extreme concern” over the U.S. potentially
providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Russian President
Vladimir Putin himself has previously suggested that the U.S.
supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would seriously damage
relations between Moscow and Washington.
Zelenskyy will join a Ukrainian delegation already in the U.S.
for preliminary talks, led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
Russia has stepped up attacks in recent weeks targeting
electricity and gas infrastructure ahead of winter, in an effort
to cripple Ukraine’s power grid ahead of freezing temperatures
to erode public morale. Ukraine's State Emergency Service said
the worst attacks early Monday using drones and missiles
occurred around the Black Sea port of Odesa and in the northern
Chernihiv region, where one person was killed.
Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, pledged continued pressure on
Moscow. She also expressed confidence that objections led by
Hungary to a new Russia sanctions package would be overcome,
even if the process drags on past a meeting of EU leaders next
week. “On funding, the needs are enormous. We must help Ukraine
defend itself so we don’t later spend even more repairing
destroyed infrastructure,” Kallas said. “We are 27 member
states, and 27 democracies, so debates take time ... I’m
positive that, as before, we’ll achieve a decision.”
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