White House says Trump, Zelensky to meet in Washington next week

White House says Trump, Zelensky to meet in Washington next week
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, on July 8, 2026. (File/AFP)
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Updated 24 July 2026 17:37
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White House says Trump, Zelensky to meet in Washington next week

White House says Trump, Zelensky to meet in Washington next week

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday, a White ​House official said on Friday.
A Ukrainian source said Zelensky was interested in traveling to the United States but his team was waiting for official confirmation of Trump’s schedule from the White House.
The source added that Ukrainians and US officials had been discussing a proposal for an air ceasefire to take to Russian officials, as part of ‌a new ‌round of peace proposals to ​try ‌to end ⁠the war ​that ⁠began in 2022 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The source said Ukraine had approached Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past with offers of a ceasefire, which had been turned down. However, some officials believe that pressure on Russia’s economy from ongoing Ukrainian drone and missile strikes may soften Putin’s stance. Zelensky ⁠spoke on Wednesday with US envoys ‌Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about ‌the prospects for renewed peace talks with ​Russia, and said that ‌Ukrainian and US officials could meet in the United ‌States in the coming days.
Earlier on Friday, right-wing activist and Trump ally Laura Loomer interviewed Zelensky and said he had told her he would likely be in the United States next week ‌for a trip that would include a meeting with Trump.
Loomer, in a post on ⁠X, added ⁠that Zelensky said he would attend the funeral for US Senator Lindsey Graham, who died earlier this month. A memorial service for the Republican lawmaker will be held on Tuesday in Washington, where Trump will make remarks ahead of a funeral in Graham’s home state of South Carolina on Wednesday.
Graham was a major supporter of Ukraine, traveling there 10 times since the Russian invasion. He pushed for sanctions on Russia as well as US backing ​for Kyiv.