President Zelensky Appreciates President Trump's Support For Ukraine

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday he had spoken with United States President Donald Trump after the announcement of a new weapon to Ukraine and thanked him for his support.

"The conversation was very good. I thank him for his willingness to support Ukraine and continue to work together to stop killings and realize lasting and fair peace," President Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

He further said he agreed with President Trump to talk more frequently and "continue to coordinate our steps".

In addition, he also said he had had excellent conversations with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who met with President Trump at the White House on Monday.

President Zelensky yesterday met with US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, discussing increasing Ukraine's air defenses and buying weapons by Kyiv with European help.

That followed President Trump's statement on Sunday about the delivery of Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine.

"We discussed the path to peace and what we can do together practically to get it closer. This includes strengthening Ukraine's air defenses, joint production, and procuring defense weapons in collaboration with Europe," he wrote of a meeting with Kellogg on X.

"And of course, sanctions against Russia and those who help it," he said.

Earlier, President Trump told reporters he was disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that billions of dollars in US weapons would be given to Ukraine.

He also threatened to impose sanctions on Russian export buyers unless Russia agreed to a peace agreement, which demonstrates his frustration at Russia's repeated attacks on Ukrainian cities. However, the threat of sanctions is accompanied by a grace period of 50 days.

The weapons will include Patriot air defense missiles, which Ukraine desperately needs.

President Trump, who started his second term with a softer approach to Russia, has in recent weeks expressed his disappointment with President Putin as Moscow has stepped up airstrikes in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Most recently, airstrike warnings were announced in Kyiv shortly after a meeting between President Zelensky and Kellogg on Monday.