Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to hold talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday in a meeting that could shape Washington’s future support for Kyiv as the war with Russia continues.
The visit comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have shown little progress, while both Ukraine and Russia continue to intensify long-range military operations more than four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Zelensky said preparations were under way for discussions with the US president and his team.
He expressed hope that the United States would continue supporting Ukraine and help secure what he described as a dignified and lasting peace.
The meeting follows a noticeable improvement in relations between the two leaders, whose interactions have previously been marked by sharp disagreements. Although ties have often been strained, recent exchanges have suggested a more cooperative tone.
Since returning to office in January last year, President Trump has shifted the US approach to military assistance.
Rather than sending large quantities of weapons directly to Ukraine, Washington has largely relied on a programme allowing European partners to purchase American-made equipment before transferring it to Kyiv.
Despite that change, the United States remains one of Ukraine’s most important partners, continuing to provide intelligence support and access to satellite communications that are widely used by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield.
During an earlier meeting in Washington in October 2025, Zelensky sought to persuade Trump to approve the supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles but was unsuccessful.
Months later, a highly publicised Oval Office meeting saw the two leaders clash openly, with Trump accusing the Ukrainian president of showing insufficient appreciation for American support and warning that the conflict risked wider international consequences.
Relations have since become less confrontational. During their most recent meeting in Turkey earlier in July, Trump praised Zelensky’s leadership and announced plans to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence missiles domestically, a move that could strengthen the country’s ability to defend itself against continuing Russian missile and drone attacks.
Political voices within Trump’s support base have also shown signs of changing position. Several conservative commentators who had previously criticised military assistance to Ukraine have recently voiced stronger backing for Kyiv.
Ahead of the US visit, Zelensky met senior US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss ways of reviving diplomatic negotiations, which have remained largely inactive in recent months. Earlier attempts to broker peace failed to overcome disagreements over Ukrainian territory occupied and claimed by Russia.
Meanwhile, contacts between Moscow and Washington have also become more limited after earlier efforts to improve dialogue, including discussions surrounding a possible summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed reports that negotiations on an aerial ceasefire were taking place.
Russian officials have argued that Ukraine’s increasing long-range strikes inside Russian territory make any diplomatic breakthrough more difficult.
Ukraine has recently expanded attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including oil depots and refineries, contributing to fuel supply disruptions in several regions. It has also targeted cargo shipping in the Sea of Azov and logistics facilities linked to major Russian businesses.
Russia has continued extensive missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, including strikes on the Black Sea port of Odesa and vessels operating from the harbour, disrupting Ukrainian agricultural exports.
Diplomatic contacts have nevertheless continued. During a recent meeting in Manila, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the conflict for the first time since 2025. The talks lasted around half an hour, with Lavrov warning against further Western arms supplies to Ukraine.
Following the meeting, Rubio said Washington remained willing to play a constructive role in efforts to end the war, while signalling continued caution over Russian proposals.
Trump and Putin last spoke by telephone on 5 July, but despite periodic diplomatic contacts, there has been little sign of a breakthrough as fighting continues on the ground and both sides press ahead with military operations.
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