Zelenskiy, Trump discuss boosting Ukraine’s air defences amid renewed Russian strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that he spoke with US President Donald Trump about strengthening Ukraine’s air defences, following a surge in Russian aerial attacks.

The conversation focused on enhancing Kyiv’s capacity to “defend the sky” and included discussions on joint defence production, purchases, and investment, Zelenskiy wrote on his official Telegram channel.

Ukraine has been urging Washington to approve additional sales of Patriot air defence systems and interceptor missiles, which it considers vital to protect its population centres and infrastructure amid a rise in Russian drone and missile assaults.

The bilateral call came amid heightened security concerns in Kyiv after what Ukrainian officials described as the largest drone assault on the capital since the start of the full-scale war.

The strike, which took place shortly after Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, damaged civilian areas and set fire to residential buildings.

Zelenskiy denounced the attack as “deliberately massive and cynical.”

Trump: ‘very disappointed’ in Putin call

Speaking to reporters in Washington after returning from a campaign stop in Iowa, President Trump said he had earlier held a phone conversation with President Putin but came away disheartened.

“I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin because I don’t think he’s there,” Trump said.

“I’m just saying I don’t think he’s looking to stop, and that’s too bad.”

Trump added that he saw no indication during the call that Putin was prepared to end the war and described the discussion as unproductive.

“I didn’t make any progress with him at all,” he told reporters.

Shortly after the Trump-Putin exchange, Russian drones reportedly struck residential districts in Kyiv’s northern suburbs.

Ukrainian officials linked the assault to Moscow’s continued targeting of urban centres as part of its aerial campaign.

Trump also speaks with German Chancellor Merz

The call between Trump and Zelenskiy came at a critical juncture for Ukraine, which is grappling with both escalating attacks and uncertainties over US support.

In response, Germany has reportedly entered talks to procure additional Patriot systems for Ukraine in an effort to help bridge the gap in protection.

German news outlet Spiegel reported that President Trump also held a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday.

Citing unnamed government sources, the news outlet said the two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, focusing on bolstering air defence systems and bilateral trade issues.

The flurry of diplomatic engagement underscores mounting international concern about the trajectory of the war in Ukraine, now in its third year, and the need to reinvigorate efforts to achieve a political resolution.

Despite recent attempts, formal diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Moscow remain stalled.

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