(WASHINGTON) – US and Ukrainian leaders Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded a private meeting at the White House lasting just over an hour. The talks in the Oval Office, which began at 4:47 p.m. Kyiv time, were closed to the press, meaning journalists were unable to observe the leaders together.
Trump’s next scheduled meeting is with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The encounter was expected to be significantly friendlier than their infamous clash last year, when Trump openly criticised Zelenskyy and declared, “You don’t have any cards in your hand.” Recent weeks have seen a shift in attitude from the administration and right wing figures toward Ukraine, following a cordial meeting between the two leaders at a NATO summit earlier this month.
The Trump administration now appears to be providing Ukraine with more support than at any other point during his second term. In a further sign of shifting dynamics, right wing figure and Trump ally Laura Loomer met with Zelenskyy last week.
Ahead of the meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Fox News that Trump plays a “decisive role” in the war and can resolve the deadlock. Rutte stated the leaders would discuss increasing pressure on the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to “sit down at the negotiating table and end this bloody slaughter.”
The talks occurred as Trump issued stark threats to Iran in a Fox News interview, claiming he could “destroy” most of its bridges in under an hour and target power and desalination plants. He said Iran knows he will “finish what he started” if a deal is not reached, adding that millions would then struggle to survive.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump’s private view of the conflict has shifted. For over a year he insisted Ukraine would lose, but sources say he has been impressed by Ukrainian resilience and deep strikes inside Russian territory. A senior administration official noted Trump loves winners and Zelenskyy increasingly resembles one. “We have actually established good relations. Hard to believe, right?” Trump said during a July meeting in Turkey. The shift was reportedly aided by an Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who told Trump that Ukrainians are fighters and winners.
The diplomatic engagements are set against the backdrop of Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington, where Trump will deliver a speech and both Zelenskyy and Netanyahu plan to attend. Graham, who died on 11 July aged 71 from an aortic rupture, was a vocal supporter of Ukraine.
On the issue of military supplies, Trump addressed concerns about depleting US ammunition stockpiles aboard Air Force One. He insisted America has “a lot of ammunition” but blamed his predecessor, stating “Biden gave a lot to Ukraine. So we are building that up.”
This comes as Reuters revealed the Trump administration informed Congress it will not finish spending $400 million (£308 million/€360 million) in authorised Ukraine aid until fiscal year 2029. The Pentagon spending plan lists $200 million (£154 million/€180 million) for weapons and ammunition, $99.9 million (£77 million/€90 million) for vehicles and spare parts, and $100 million (£77 million/€90 million) for transport services. Lawmakers from both parties have heavily criticised the schedule as extremely slow for an active conflict. At a hearing last week, Senator Dick Durbin asked what impact air defence aid could have if it cannot be funded for three years.
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