Zelensky says Ukraine ready to ink drone deal with US as Trump ramps up pressure on Russia
'The draft agreement on drones has already been prepared by the Ukrainian side, we are ready to discuss it in detail and conclude it. One of the strongest agreements this could be,' read an X statement by Zelensky, who told The Post in an interview last month that Ukraine would be happy to share its aerial technology with the US.
'The people of America need this technology, and you need to have it in your arsenal,' Zelensky saidat the time of Ukraine's unmanned aerial vehicles, which have been able to penetrate Russia's defenses and strike as deep as 800 miles into Moscow's territory.
The Trump-Zelensky talk took place just a day before White House special envoy Steve Witkoff was due to visit Russia ahead of the US president's Aug. 8 deadline to bring its invasion of Ukraine to an end or face additional economic punishment.
The Witkoff visit will take place at the request of the Kremlin, Russian officials have said.
'We are grateful to [Trump] for all efforts toward a just and lasting peace. It is truly a must to stop the killing as soon as possible, and we fully support this,' Zelensky began his statement on X.
'Many months could have already passed without war, had Russia not been prolonging it. Today, we coordinated our positions – Ukraine and the United States.'
3 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised President Trump for his plans to slap penalties on Russia.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images
3 President Trump initially sought to court Russia but has since soured on Vladimir Putin and embraced Ukraine.
AP
The two leaders also discussed Trump's plan to slap secondary tariffs or sanctions against countries that import oil from Moscow, with the goal of cutting off a key revenue stream for Putin's war machine.
China and India are the largest importers of Russian oil, with Trump repeatedly threatening to ramp tariffs on New Delhi above the current 25% rate if the country's buying habits continue.
'I'm not worried about [oil] prices because we're drilling at levels that nobody's ever seen before,' Trump told CNBC's 'Squawk Box' Tuesday when asked whether the planned penalties would affect prices at the pump.
3 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have thawed out his once fraught relationship with President Trump.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images
In June, Russia's economy minister admitted that the country is on the brink of a recession. Putin also announced that month that Moscow intended to reduce its defense budget despite the ongoing war.
'Their economy continues to decline, and that's exactly why Moscow is so sensitive to this prospect and President Trump's resolve. This can change a lot,' Zelensky said on X Tuesday.
The Ukrainian president also made sure that Trump was up to speed on Russia's latest bloody drone and missile bombardments, which hit a record level in July.
'The Russians have intensified the brutality of their attacks. President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities,' Zelensky explained.
'Thank you to every American heart that supports our defense of life. Thank you, President Trump!' he concluded.
Last month, Trump announced that the US would begin selling weapons to Ukraine, via European nations who would purchase firepower to donate to the war-torn nation.
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