Here’s what President Trump did.
President Donald Trump held a private meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday, just hours before both leaders attended the funeral of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The high-level discussion centered on the ongoing war in Ukraine, renewed peace negotiations with Russia, and future U.S. military assistance, signaling that the Trump administration is continuing its diplomatic push to end the conflict.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, Ukrainian officials confirmed that two of Trump’s closest advisers, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to travel to Ukraine in the coming weeks. The visit would mark the first time either man has traveled to the country during the Trump administration’s latest effort to restart negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Although an official schedule has not been finalized, the planned trip is expected to focus on advancing diplomatic discussions aimed at bringing both sides back to the negotiating table after months of stalled peace efforts.
Witkoff has emerged as one of President Trump’s top negotiators on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Over recent months, he has traveled to Russia multiple times in an effort to engage directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kushner has accompanied him during one of those diplomatic missions and is expected to play an expanded role as negotiations continue.
The White House kept Tuesday’s meeting tightly controlled. Zelensky entered and exited through a side entrance, avoiding reporters, while the Oval Office discussion remained closed to the press.
Following the meeting, Zelensky revealed that one of the major topics was Ukraine’s long-standing request for additional Patriot air defense systems. Patriot missile batteries have become one of Kyiv’s highest military priorities because they are designed to intercept incoming missiles and help defend critical infrastructure from aerial attacks.
According to Zelensky, the two leaders also discussed licensing agreements that could expand production of Patriot interceptor missiles, along with several other defense initiatives intended to strengthen Ukraine’s security.
The Ukrainian president also emphasized that both governments agreed diplomacy remains essential if a lasting peace agreement is to be reached.
“Our teams will arrange the details of their further communication,” Zelensky wrote on social media. “I am grateful to the United States for its firm support.”
Photos released after the meeting showed Trump and Zelensky smiling together inside the Oval Office, highlighting what appears to be a stronger working relationship than earlier this year.
Several senior administration officials participated in the discussions, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Steve Witkoff.
The improved relationship follows a rocky beginning that drew national attention earlier this year, when Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance exchanged sharp words during a widely publicized Oval Office meeting.
Vice President Vance did not attend Tuesday’s White House talks. Instead, he traveled to Capitol Hill before later joining both Trump and Zelensky at the funeral service for Sen. Lindsey Graham at Washington National Cathedral.
Graham remained one of Congress’ strongest supporters of Ukraine throughout the war. Just one day before his death, he met with Zelensky in Kyiv and continued encouraging lawmakers to approve additional sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing conflict.
Speaking during an interview on Fox & Friends Tuesday morning, Trump reflected on Graham’s foreign policy views.
“Ukraine, he was very militant about,” Trump said. “I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you.”
Another development drawing attention among conservatives involves political commentator Laura Loomer, who has maintained a close relationship with President Trump.
After visiting Ukraine last week, Loomer acknowledged that her views had shifted following conversations and firsthand observations inside the country. She said she now believes some of her earlier opinions about Ukraine had been influenced by Russian narratives, marking a notable change from her previous public statements.
The upcoming diplomatic mission by Witkoff and Kushner will likely receive close scrutiny from leaders in Washington, Europe, and Moscow. With peace negotiations largely at a standstill and the conflict continuing to impact global security and energy markets, the Trump administration appears determined to pursue direct diplomacy while exploring options that could move both sides closer to a negotiated settlement.
Whether those efforts ultimately produce meaningful progress remains uncertain. However, Tuesday’s private White House meeting and the planned visit to Ukraine underscore that the administration is continuing to prioritize diplomacy alongside national security as it searches for a path toward ending one of the world’s most significant international conflicts.