Zelensky to pursue ballistic missile defenses and strategic partnership in talks with Trump

Our number-one priority is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. Peace needs to be brought closer, Zelensky noted in an X post.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Tuesday that his forthcoming discussions with US President Donald Trump will center on obtaining anti-ballistic defense systems and additional ammunition supplies.

Our number-one priority is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. Peace needs to be brought closer, he wrote on X.

The agenda also covers sessions with President Trump, his advisers, and other figures who can back Ukraine defense efforts, according to the post issued soon after his early Tuesday arrival in the United States.

The visit further includes attendance at Senator Lindsey Graham funeral, scheduled to take place at the White House.

Ukraine pursues early prototype of European anti-ballistic missile shield

The request for ballistic missile protection follows a Monday report that Ukraine aims to secure a prototype of a European anti-ballistic system named Freyja, with the goal of having it operational in the first half of next year.

Davyd Aloian, deputy secretary of Ukraine National Security and Defense Council and overseer of the Freyja initiative, indicated that an international steering committee will soon meet to assess research and development expenses.

Leaders from ten European nations, including Zelensky, joined roughly a dozen defense manufacturers at a Paris summit two weeks earlier to launch the anti-ballistic coalition.

Given the compressed schedule, we set an ambitious target of delivering an MVP ready in the first half of next year, Aloian stated.

That means a prototype capable of showing initial practical outcomes.

Reuters contributed to this report.