Zelenskyy and Trump agree on joint defence efforts in 'fruitful' phone call

Published on 04/07/2025 - 18:04 GMT+2

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said connected Friday pinch US President Donald Trump, successful what nan Ukrainian leader said was a "very important and fruitful" telephone call.

"Today we discussed nan existent situation, including Russian airstrikes and nan broader frontline developments," Zelenskyy wrote successful a station connected X.

"President Trump is very good informed, and I convey him for his attraction to Ukraine. We said astir opportunities successful aerial defence and agreed that we will activity together to fortify protection of our skies. We person besides agreed to a gathering betwixt our teams."

He added that they besides discussed successful item nan prospects for associated defence production.

"We - successful Ukraine - are grateful for each nan support provided. It helps america protect lives, safeguard our state and independence."

"We person achieved a batch together pinch America and we support each efforts to extremity nan killings and reconstruct just, lasting, and honorable peace. A noble statement for bid is needed," Zelenskyy pointed out.

The Ukrainian leader added they discussed nan anticipation of associated defence production, communal purchases, and investments.

Neither nan White House nor Trump himself person said thing astir nan call.

Trump speaks to Putin

That speech comes a time aft Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Ukraine, Iran and different issues successful a telephone nan Kremlin described arsenic "frank and constructive."

It was their sixth publically disclosed talk since Trump returned to nan White House.

On the warfare successful Ukraine, Putin's overseas affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov said Trump emphasised his push for a speedy halt to nan fighting, and Putin voiced Moscow's readiness to prosecute talks pinch Kyiv, noting nan erstwhile rounds successful Turkey yielded humanitarian results.

At nan aforesaid time, nan Russian leader said Moscow will activity to execute its goals successful Ukraine and region nan "root causes" of nan conflict, Ushakov said.

"Russia will not backmost down from these goals," Ushakov told reporters aft nan call.

Also connected Thursday, Trump complained that nan United States provided excessively galore weapons to Ukraine nether nan erstwhile administration, his first nationalist comments on the region successful immoderate shipments arsenic Russia escalates its full-scale invasion.

On Tuesday, nan US said it was halting shipments of immoderate aerial defence missiles and different weapons antecedently promised to Kyiv amid concerns that its ain stockpiles had declined excessively much, according to officials. 

Certain munitions were antecedently promised to Ukraine nether nan Biden management to support its defences. However, nan management appears to person revised immoderate of those decisions owed to concerns for US interests. 

"This determination was made to put America's interests first pursuing a reappraisal of our nation’s subject support and assistance to different countries crossed nan globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said successful a statement.