Trump visit: Zelensky seeks salvation between drones and diplomacy

Thanks to its advanced drone technology, Ukraine can now also attack energy plants or refineries far into Russia’s interior – for example the country’s largest refinery in Omsk, Siberia. The drone attacks triggered a fuel crisis in Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is clearly trying to maintain this war momentum in order to force Moscow to the negotiating table. At the same time, he must try to keep his current partners and supporters in the West in line.

“We have submitted to the Russian leadership all the necessary proposals to end the war with an honorable peace,” Zelensky wrote on Sunday after the commander’s meeting Facebook. Kiev’s partners have been informed. From his point of view, the Ukrainian approach is now helping to “create the conditions for real diplomacy”.

Meeting in London

On Monday, Selnesky will visit the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He is the first foreign state guest to be received by the newly crowned British head of government. However, not in Downing Street – but at a naval base.

There they will also meet British and Ukrainian military personnel who are involved in training Ukrainian armed forces. Around 200 Ukrainian soldiers and sailors recently took part in maritime safety and mine countermeasures exercises in Great Britain.

“The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and our support remains unwavering,” Burnham said ahead of the meeting. “Russia should have no doubt about our resolve, and we will not give in until we achieve a lasting and just peace for Ukraine.” Burnham’s predecessor Keir Starmer was also firmly on the side of Ukraine supporters.

Britain also wants to give Ukraine the rights to a new technology for electronic jamming of Russian air defense systems. The device attached to drones called “Stone Cloak” is intended to make it more difficult to locate and combat them. According to British information, thousands of the devices have already been delivered to Ukraine.

Zelensky is expected at the White House on Tuesday. It is unclear to what extent US President Donald Trump currently cares about Ukraine’s concerns. On the same day he also meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for Washington, the war with Iran is of course at the forefront – even though there is currently a ceasefire.

In terms of atmosphere, the relationship between Trump and Zelensky may have improved. The last meeting between the two politicians was at the NATO summit in Ankara at the beginning of July. Zelensky’s meeting with the right-wing US influencer and Trump supporter is probably responsible for this Laura Loomer may have been. Trump then commented on the meeting with a brief “very good”. Loomer herself appears to have changed her stance on Ukraine. She says: “This is everyday life for every Ukrainian. I feel like a total asshole for downplaying the Ukrainians’ struggle over the past five years.”

When Zelenskiy speaks to Trump, it could of course also be about Iran. The Ukrainian recently said that Russia was helping Iran through Moscow Tehearn provides data from satellite observations. This enables Iran to attack US military facilities in the Gulf states.

According to Zelensky, “There is a clear connection between the Russian satellite images of these sites and the Iranian attacks – both before the attacks, during their preparation, and afterward to assess the damage caused.”