Trump hosts Zelenskyy ahead of Lindsey Graham funeral as Ukraine aid tops agenda

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the White House on July 28 ahead of the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a leading Republican supporter of military aid to Ukraine.

The two leaders were expected to hold a brief private meeting before attending Graham's funeral. Zelenskyy is expected to press Trump for additional air defence systems, progress on a drone cooperation agreement, and discussions on Trump's pledge to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot missile interceptors under licence, British media reports.

The visit comes as U.S.-Ukraine relations have improved after a difficult start to Trump's second term. It also follows the death of Graham, one of Kyiv's strongest advocates in Washington.

After the White House meeting, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet senators at the U.S. Capitol.

The visit also coincides with criticism of the Trump administration after a Pentagon letter showed it does not plan to complete spending the remaining $400 million in congressionally approved military aid for Ukraine until fiscal year 2029, despite Kyiv's urgent defence needs.

Graham, who died on July 11 at the age of 71, met Zelenskyy in Kyiv a day before his death and spent his final days promoting a bipartisan sanctions package against Russia. His sister, Darline Graham, has been appointed to complete his Senate term and will run for a full term with Trump's endorsement.

Arriving in Washington, Zelenskyy said anti-ballistic defence and strategic cooperation with the United States were his top priorities.

"Peace needs to be brought closer," he said in a post on X.

A White House official said Trump would discuss efforts to end the war with the Ukrainian president.

"Now is the time to end the war," the official said.

Last week, Zelenskyy also discussed prospects for renewed peace talks with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, saying Ukrainian and U.S. officials could meet again in the coming days.