Zelensky asks senators for air defenses, tells them Ukraine is winning war
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greets Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) as he arrives for a meeting with Senators to discuss the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senators in the Capitol on Tuesday to press his case for additional U.S. support for Ukraine, specifically anti-ballistic missiles, and to emphasize his country’s gains in the war against Russia.
The meeting occurred shortly before senators voted to advance legislation further sanctioning Russia and imposing steep tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy.
“This bill is very important, sanctions pressure on Russia is very important,” Zelensky told reporters in the Capitol following the meeting.
“It’s not only about money, how to stop Russia financing this war, but it’s also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people,” Zelensky said.
The meeting lasted for over an hour and the Ukrainian president was joined by Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. Both leaders were in D.C. attending the memorial services for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Graham was the driving force behind the Russia sanctions bill and had reached a breakthrough with the White House to gain President Trump’s support for the legislation shortly before his sudden death earlier this month.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said Zelensky and Stubb said the sanctions bill’s passage is essential to hold Putin to account financially “but also morale and showing that we’re ready to see this result.”
Senators said the Ukrainian leader also gave lawmakers an update on the battlefield situation, where Russia has been pushed onto its back foot from Ukraine’s increasing use of drones at the frontline and to strike Russian oil facilities and military targets deep inside the country.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said that Zelensky “realizes we’re not out of the woods yet. The momentum is in Ukraine’s favor, but winter’s coming on in just a few months and there’s much more to do.”
Fighting is expected to continue in the winter without a breakthrough toward a ceasefire, and Ukrainians suffered last winter under brutal attacks on their electrical grid and energy facilities as Russia tried to freeze them in their homes.
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), leaving the meeting, said Zelensky had asked specifically for more anti-ballistic missiles in the short-term, while awaiting more tech from NATO countries expected “next year.” Zelensky also stressed Ukraine’s success with drone warfare against the Russians.
“Overall, they’re doing very well,” Hoeven said. “They’re inflicting much more casualties on the Russians than the Russians are on the Ukrainians. The ratio is like eight to one, which is remarkable.”
Hoeven said he asked Zelensky specifically about recruiting troops, to which Zelensky replied that his military is raising about 30,000 recruits a month to Russia’s 40,000, but making up for the gap in technology. The tone of the meeting was “upbeat,” Hoeven said, moreso than Zelensky’s previous visits to the Capitol, because Ukraine “has changed the tenor of the war” with its technological advances.
Zelensky has long said that Ukraine needs air defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. In an interview with Sky News this week, Zelensky said that sanctions have failed to impact Russia’s ability to ramp up its ballistic missile production.
“Ukraine’s domestic production allows us to down drones and many other things, but we can’t shoot down ballistic missiles,” he said in the interview.
The sanctions legislation also came up during the meeting, according to Hoeven and Justice. Zelensky encouraged senators to vote for it, saying any squeeze on Russia will help.
That bill already had broad support from senators, but some Democrats have been wary because it gives Trump more leeway to impose tariffs. Iran sanctions are also included, a key priority for Trump.
Zelensky, for his part, has also leaned into emphasizing the cooperation between Russia and Iran as the U.S. war with Iran enters its fifth month.
Zelensky on Saturday said that Ukraine struck a Russian vessel carrying military cargo, and a warship, in the Caspian sea coming from Iran. Iran countered that Ukraine had hit a commercial vessel and killed a sailor.
The episode underscores how the connections between the two frontlines are converging. Iran has long supported Russia by sharing its attack drone technology, the Shahed. Zelensky said that Ukraine has evidence that Russia is sharing satellite imagery on U.S. troop positions in the Middle East.
Zelensky’s discussion with lawmakers followed his meeting with Trump earlier in the day, which the White House described as positive and productive.
It led to discussions on reviving talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, with an offer to send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv and then Moscow. Witkoff, a close friend to the president and business partner, is his special envoy for peace missions, and Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law. The two have served as the main point of contact to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin but have never visited Ukraine.
Trump, speaking alongside Zelensky earlier this month on the sidelines of the NATO summit, acknowledged Ukrainian gains on the battlefield against Russia and long range strikes inside the country were putting increasing pressure on Putin to get to a settlement. It was at that meeting Trump announced he would green light Patriot missile co-production.
Zelensky used his meeting Tuesday with Trump to follow up on the Patriot licenses, critical for Ukrainian defense against Russian ballistic missiles – but any production is likely going to take years to develop.
Zelensky also met with executives from Lockheed Martin, which produce the Patriot missiles.
“Our teams are already working on specific solutions to move to co-production as quickly as possible and increase our capabilities to protect lives,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senators in the Capitol on Tuesday to press his case for additional U.S. support for Ukraine, specifically anti-ballistic missiles,…
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Skip to content
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greets Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) as he arrives for a meeting with Senators to discuss the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senators in the Capitol on Tuesday to press his case for additional U.S. support for Ukraine, specifically anti-ballistic missiles, and to emphasize his country’s gains in the war against Russia.
The meeting occurred shortly before senators voted to advance legislation further sanctioning Russia and imposing steep tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy.
“This bill is very important, sanctions pressure on Russia is very important,” Zelensky told reporters in the Capitol following the meeting.
“It’s not only about money, how to stop Russia financing this war, but it’s also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people,” Zelensky said.
The meeting lasted for over an hour and the Ukrainian president was joined by Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. Both leaders were in D.C. attending the memorial services for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Graham was the driving force behind the Russia sanctions bill and had reached a breakthrough with the White House to gain President Trump’s support for the legislation shortly before his sudden death earlier this month.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said Zelensky and Stubb said the sanctions bill’s passage is essential to hold Putin to account financially “but also morale and showing that we’re ready to see this result.”
Senators said the Ukrainian leader also gave lawmakers an update on the battlefield situation, where Russia has been pushed onto its back foot from Ukraine’s increasing use of drones at the frontline and to strike Russian oil facilities and military targets deep inside the country.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said that Zelensky “realizes we’re not out of the woods yet. The momentum is in Ukraine’s favor, but winter’s coming on in just a few months and there’s much more to do.”
Fighting is expected to continue in the winter without a breakthrough toward a ceasefire, and Ukrainians suffered last winter under brutal attacks on their electrical grid and energy facilities as Russia tried to freeze them in their homes.
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), leaving the meeting, said Zelensky had asked specifically for more anti-ballistic missiles in the short-term, while awaiting more tech from NATO countries expected “next year.” Zelensky also stressed Ukraine’s success with drone warfare against the Russians.
“Overall, they’re doing very well,” Hoeven said. “They’re inflicting much more casualties on the Russians than the Russians are on the Ukrainians. The ratio is like eight to one, which is remarkable.”
Hoeven said he asked Zelensky specifically about recruiting troops, to which Zelensky replied that his military is raising about 30,000 recruits a month to Russia’s 40,000, but making up for the gap in technology. The tone of the meeting was “upbeat,” Hoeven said, moreso than Zelensky’s previous visits to the Capitol, because Ukraine “has changed the tenor of the war” with its technological advances.
Zelensky has long said that Ukraine needs air defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. In an interview with Sky News this week, Zelensky said that sanctions have failed to impact Russia’s ability to ramp up its ballistic missile production.
“Ukraine’s domestic production allows us to down drones and many other things, but we can’t shoot down ballistic missiles,” he said in the interview.
The sanctions legislation also came up during the meeting, according to Hoeven and Justice. Zelensky encouraged senators to vote for it, saying any squeeze on Russia will help.
That bill already had broad support from senators, but some Democrats have been wary because it gives Trump more leeway to impose tariffs. Iran sanctions are also included, a key priority for Trump.
Zelensky, for his part, has also leaned into emphasizing the cooperation between Russia and Iran as the U.S. war with Iran enters its fifth month.
Zelensky on Saturday said that Ukraine struck a Russian vessel carrying military cargo, and a warship, in the Caspian sea coming from Iran. Iran countered that Ukraine had hit a commercial vessel and killed a sailor.
The episode underscores how the connections between the two frontlines are converging. Iran has long supported Russia by sharing its attack drone technology, the Shahed. Zelensky said that Ukraine has evidence that Russia is sharing satellite imagery on U.S. troop positions in the Middle East.
Zelensky’s discussion with lawmakers followed his meeting with Trump earlier in the day, which the White House described as positive and productive.
It led to discussions on reviving talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, with an offer to send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv and then Moscow. Witkoff, a close friend to the president and business partner, is his special envoy for peace missions, and Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law. The two have served as the main point of contact to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin but have never visited Ukraine.
Trump, speaking alongside Zelensky earlier this month on the sidelines of the NATO summit, acknowledged Ukrainian gains on the battlefield against Russia and long range strikes inside the country were putting increasing pressure on Putin to get to a settlement. It was at that meeting Trump announced he would green light Patriot missile co-production.
Zelensky used his meeting Tuesday with Trump to follow up on the Patriot licenses, critical for Ukrainian defense against Russian ballistic missiles – but any production is likely going to take years to develop.
Zelensky also met with executives from Lockheed Martin, which produce the Patriot missiles.
“Our teams are already working on specific solutions to move to co-production as quickly as possible and increase our capabilities to protect lives,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
Skip to content
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky greets Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) as he arrives for a meeting with Senators to discuss the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senators in the Capitol on Tuesday to press his case for additional U.S. support for Ukraine, specifically anti-ballistic missiles, and to emphasize his country’s gains in the war against Russia.
The meeting occurred shortly before senators voted to advance legislation further sanctioning Russia and imposing steep tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy.
“This bill is very important, sanctions pressure on Russia is very important,” Zelensky told reporters in the Capitol following the meeting.
“It’s not only about money, how to stop Russia financing this war, but it’s also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people,” Zelensky said.
The meeting lasted for over an hour and the Ukrainian president was joined by Finland’s President Alexander Stubb. Both leaders were in D.C. attending the memorial services for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Graham was the driving force behind the Russia sanctions bill and had reached a breakthrough with the White House to gain President Trump’s support for the legislation shortly before his sudden death earlier this month.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said Zelensky and Stubb said the sanctions bill’s passage is essential to hold Putin to account financially “but also morale and showing that we’re ready to see this result.”
Senators said the Ukrainian leader also gave lawmakers an update on the battlefield situation, where Russia has been pushed onto its back foot from Ukraine’s increasing use of drones at the frontline and to strike Russian oil facilities and military targets deep inside the country.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said that Zelensky “realizes we’re not out of the woods yet. The momentum is in Ukraine’s favor, but winter’s coming on in just a few months and there’s much more to do.”
Fighting is expected to continue in the winter without a breakthrough toward a ceasefire, and Ukrainians suffered last winter under brutal attacks on their electrical grid and energy facilities as Russia tried to freeze them in their homes.
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), leaving the meeting, said Zelensky had asked specifically for more anti-ballistic missiles in the short-term, while awaiting more tech from NATO countries expected “next year.” Zelensky also stressed Ukraine’s success with drone warfare against the Russians.
“Overall, they’re doing very well,” Hoeven said. “They’re inflicting much more casualties on the Russians than the Russians are on the Ukrainians. The ratio is like eight to one, which is remarkable.”
Hoeven said he asked Zelensky specifically about recruiting troops, to which Zelensky replied that his military is raising about 30,000 recruits a month to Russia’s 40,000, but making up for the gap in technology. The tone of the meeting was “upbeat,” Hoeven said, moreso than Zelensky’s previous visits to the Capitol, because Ukraine “has changed the tenor of the war” with its technological advances.
Zelensky has long said that Ukraine needs air defense systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. In an interview with Sky News this week, Zelensky said that sanctions have failed to impact Russia’s ability to ramp up its ballistic missile production.
“Ukraine’s domestic production allows us to down drones and many other things, but we can’t shoot down ballistic missiles,” he said in the interview.
The sanctions legislation also came up during the meeting, according to Hoeven and Justice. Zelensky encouraged senators to vote for it, saying any squeeze on Russia will help.
That bill already had broad support from senators, but some Democrats have been wary because it gives Trump more leeway to impose tariffs. Iran sanctions are also included, a key priority for Trump.
Zelensky, for his part, has also leaned into emphasizing the cooperation between Russia and Iran as the U.S. war with Iran enters its fifth month.
Zelensky on Saturday said that Ukraine struck a Russian vessel carrying military cargo, and a warship, in the Caspian sea coming from Iran. Iran countered that Ukraine had hit a commercial vessel and killed a sailor.
The episode underscores how the connections between the two frontlines are converging. Iran has long supported Russia by sharing its attack drone technology, the Shahed. Zelensky said that Ukraine has evidence that Russia is sharing satellite imagery on U.S. troop positions in the Middle East.
Zelensky’s discussion with lawmakers followed his meeting with Trump earlier in the day, which the White House described as positive and productive.
It led to discussions on reviving talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, with an offer to send Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv and then Moscow. Witkoff, a close friend to the president and business partner, is his special envoy for peace missions, and Kushner is Trump’s son-in-law. The two have served as the main point of contact to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin but have never visited Ukraine.
Trump, speaking alongside Zelensky earlier this month on the sidelines of the NATO summit, acknowledged Ukrainian gains on the battlefield against Russia and long range strikes inside the country were putting increasing pressure on Putin to get to a settlement. It was at that meeting Trump announced he would green light Patriot missile co-production.
Zelensky used his meeting Tuesday with Trump to follow up on the Patriot licenses, critical for Ukrainian defense against Russian ballistic missiles – but any production is likely going to take years to develop.
Zelensky also met with executives from Lockheed Martin, which produce the Patriot missiles.
“Our teams are already working on specific solutions to move to co-production as quickly as possible and increase our capabilities to protect lives,” Zelensky wrote on social media.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at The Hill ↗
This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with senators in the Capitol on Tuesday to press his case for additional U.S.
- support for Ukraine, specifically anti-ballistic missiles,…