Ukraine’s Zelenskyy and Trump Discuss Aid, Air Defense, and Drone Partnership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described his phone conversation with former US President Donald Trump as ‘fruitful,’ focusing on US support for Ukraine, particularly regarding air defense and drones. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for America’s willingness to assist and announced an agreement with a leading American company to increase collaborative drone initiatives. Patriot systems were identified as critical for protection against ballistic threats. Concurrent with the discussion, reports surfaced of a Ukrainian military strike on a Russian airbase near Voronezh, and Moscow’s air defenses engaged in intercepting multiple Ukrainian drones, leading to temporary airport closures. The Russian Defense Ministry reported numerous drone interceptions. After the talks, Trump stated the necessity of Patriot missiles for Ukraine’s defense and voiced his displeasure with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions.