President Zelensky Announces Joint Effort with President Donald Trump to Strengthen Ukraine’s Air Defense
Kyiv, July 4, 2025 —
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed on a joint initiative to bolster Ukraine’s air defense systems, following what he described as a “very important and productive” phone call. The discussion comes amid growing concerns in Kyiv over delays in U.S. military aid.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelensky wrote:
“We discussed opportunities for air defense and agreed to work together to make our skies more secure.”
He added that the two leaders also spoke about joint defense production, procurement, and investment opportunities.
According to U.S. outlet Axios, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official and a source familiar with the call, President Trump expressed interest in supporting Ukraine’s air defense efforts amid intensifying Russian attacks.
The phone call occurred one day after Trump held a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he described as “disappointing.”
Trump said,
“My conversation today with President Putin was very disappointing, because I don’t believe he has any intention of stopping—this is truly unfortunate.”
He confirmed that the conversation with Putin did not yield any progress toward ending the war. Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated that it would continue working toward resolving the “root causes” of the conflict.
Massive Russian Drone Attack on Kyiv
Just hours after the Trump-Putin call, Russia launched one of the largest drone attacks of the war on Kyiv, killing one person and injuring at least 23 others. Buildings across the capital were damaged.
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia launched a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles during the night. Kyiv was rocked by continuous air raid sirens, the sounds of kamikaze drones, and explosions.
Zelensky condemned the attack as “deliberately widespread and cruel.”
Uncertainty Over U.S. Aid
Ukraine has repeatedly requested Patriot missile systems and other air defense equipment from the U.S., calling them crucial to protecting against escalating Russian air assaults.
A recent decision by Washington to temporarily suspend some weapons shipments has alarmed Kyiv, which fears it could weaken its defense against Russia. In response, Germany has begun talks to supply Patriots to Ukraine.
Following his call with Trump, Zelensky further posted on X:
“We had a detailed discussion on defense industry capabilities and joint production. We are ready to launch direct projects with the United States and believe this is vital for security—especially in terms of drones and related technologies.”
“We are grateful for the support we’ve received. This assistance is helping us protect lives and defend our freedom.”
Zelensky concluded:
“We support all efforts aimed at stopping the bloodshed and bringing about a just, lasting, and dignified peace. What we need now is a noble and acceptable peace agreement.”
