Zelensky aims to get ballistic missile defenses, strategic cooperation during meeting with Trump

ByTOBIAS HOLCMANJULY 28, 2026 10:48Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he will focus his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump on acquiring anti-ballistic defense systems and ammunition."Our number-one priority is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. Peace needs to be brought closer," he stated on X/Twitter."Our schedule includes meetings with President Trump, his team, and those who can support our defense," he also said on the post, which was shared shortly after he arrived in the US early Tuesday morning.Zelensky's trip will also include attending Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral, which will be held at the White House.Ukraine seeking prototype of European anti-ballistic missile defenseZelensky's push for a ballistic missile comes after a Monday report indicated that Ukraine was seeking to acquire a prototype of a European anti-ballistic system, codenamed Freyja, to be ready within the first half of next year.Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky arriving to the US. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X)Davyd Aloian, deputy secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, who oversees the Freyja project, said that an international steering committee tasked with estimating the research and development costs was due to convene for the first time soon.Leaders from 10 European countries, including Zelensky, as well as around a dozen defense manufacturers, gathered at a summit in Paris two weeks ago to officially launch the anti-ballistic coalition."Since we're working within such a tight timeframe, we have an ambitious goal: to have an MVP (minimum viable product) ready by the first half of next year," Aloian said."That is a prototype that can already demonstrate its first practical results."Reuters contributed to this report.Follow us on Google