President Volodymyr Zelensky said relations with US President Donald Trump have changed “completely” since their tense Oval Office confrontation earlier this year, as reports suggest the two leaders could meet again in Washington next week.
According to Deutsche Welle journalist Misha Komadovsky, citing two senior officials, Zelensky is expected to travel to Washington next Tuesday to attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
The officials said a meeting with Trump is also being arranged, although its format is still being finalized. It could take place on the sidelines of the funeral, in a private meeting, or during an official White House visit.
The report follows earlier claims by RBC-Ukraine, citing an informed source, that Zelensky hoped to visit the US soon but was awaiting confirmation of Trump’s schedule.
Speaking in an interview with American conservative commentator Laura Loomer – a clip later shared by Trump on Truth Social – Zelensky reflected on how relations with the US president had improved following their widely publicized dispute in the Oval Office in February 2025.
Asked how the relationship had changed, Zelensky said the turning point came during a brief private conversation with Trump at the Vatican in Rome.
“You are right, the tone has changed, absolutely,” Zelensky said. “We had the first changing moment in Rome, in the Vatican. It was not a long meeting, but I think it was a historic moment because we changed the relations during 15-20 minutes.”
Ukraine, Raytheon Discuss Joint Patriot Interceptor Production
He said the two leaders spoke without aides present.
“I was very happy to hear the president, and he heard me, and I heard him. Let it be between the two of us, but it was very good,” Zelensky said. “A lot of lives depend on such relations and dialogue.”
The two presidents most recently met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8.
Following that meeting, Trump described Ukraine as having “a great future,” said he had a good relationship with Zelensky, and warned that Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia could further escalate the war.
The meeting also resulted in Trump’s decision to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense systems domestically.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
