Zelenskyy speaks with Trump ahead of Putin ceasefire deadline

“President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks.

Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil, but sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin was unlikely to bow to the ultimatum.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the US on the purchase of Ukrainian drones that would amount to “one of the strongest agreements”. He had earlier said the deal was worth around $30 billion.

Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s European partners had so far pledged to buy more than $1 billion in US weapons for Ukraine as part of a new scheme.