Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The high-level talks come as Washington prepares to consider tougher sanctions against Russia.
Zelenskyy is also scheduled to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham before meeting members of the US Senate later in the day. According to Reuters, the visit coincides with growing diplomatic efforts surrounding the wars in Ukraine and Iran.
The US Senate is expected to vote on a long-delayed sanctions bill targeting Russia. If approved, the legislation would impose 100 percent tariffs on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India.
Senate Sanctions Bill Targets Russia and Iran
The sanctions package was strongly backed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham before reaching the Senate floor. Meanwhile, Trump has pushed to include new sanctions on Iran in the same legislation.
Last week, Zelenskyy told Trump ally Laura Loomer that combining sanctions against Russia and Iran was a positive step. Consequently, the proposal has attracted greater attention ahead of Tuesday’s discussions.
The developments follow reports that Ukraine recently targeted an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. Therefore, tensions involving both conflicts have become increasingly interconnected.
Trump and Zelenskyy Strengthen Defence Cooperation
Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have improved considerably despite their tense White House meeting in February 2025. Both leaders have expanded cooperation on military and defence initiatives in recent months.
Earlier this month, they agreed to jointly produce Patriot air defence interceptors for Ukraine. The project aims to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to counter continued Russian aerial attacks.
Additionally, Washington and Kyiv are advancing negotiations on joint drone production. Analysts believe the partnership could help the United States accelerate its drone manufacturing capabilities.
Ukraine expects to produce between six and seven million short-range attack drones this year. Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s $1.1 billion programme is projected to procure fewer than 200,000 drones by February 2027.
