**Ukrainian President Zelensky Meets with US President Trump at NATO Summit**
In a significant development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague. The meeting, which lasted around 50 minutes, was described by Zelensky as “long and substantive”.
According to a post on X by Zelensky, the two leaders discussed key issues related to Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, including how to achieve a ceasefire and real peace. They also talked about protecting Ukrainian civilians and appreciated the US support in bringing peace closer.
The meeting comes at a time when US support for Kyiv is waning, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that “all of Ukraine is ours”. This is the first face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Trump since April, when they briefly spoke on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome.
**Planned Discussion on Defense Package Falls Through**
The two leaders were expected to discuss Ukraine’s planned purchase of a new defense package, including air defense systems. However, no further details have been announced about this aspect of their meeting.
Speaking at a briefing earlier in the day, Trump was asked what he would be discussing with Zelensky. He replied that they would “be discussing his difficulties”, without elaborating on what he meant.
**US Support for Ukraine Wanes**
The US support for Ukraine has been dwindling in recent months. Just last week, Putin declared that Russia had taken control of all of Ukraine. The NATO summit convenes at a time when the international community is grappling with how to address this crisis.
Zelensky expressed uncertainty about Trump’s ties to Putin but said he believes Trump understands that Ukraine is a US ally and that “the real existential enemy of America is Russia”.
**Ukraine Faces Drone Attacks**
Meanwhile, Ukraine faces an increasing threat from Russian drone attacks. On June 24, Russian forces launched 71 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys from multiple directions, including Bryansk, Millerovo, Kursk, and occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s air defenses destroyed 52 of them.
The use of such drones has become a hallmark of Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine. Speaking on June 24, Zelensky stressed that Russia would never have been able to carry out such drone attacks without support from Iran, and Ukraine, in turn, could not have intercepted most of the drones without the help of its international partners.
**International Community Rallies Behind Ukraine**
The international community continues to rally behind Ukraine. Lithuania has signed a memorandum with American defense firm Northrop Grumman and Norwegian Nammo to secure the production of ammunition amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Ukraine has reduced its mined territory by over 20% since late 2022, but around 137,000 square kilometers (52,900 square miles) remain hazardous. The evacuation of civilians through Azerbaijan and Moldova to Kyiv is also underway.
The US intelligence assessment contradicts public statements by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who claimed the operation had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
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