Zelenskyy Meets U.S. Envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, Discusses Security, Sanctions, and Path to Peace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Kyiv with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, for what he described as a “constructive and substantive” discussion on advancing peace and strengthening Ukraine’s security.
The talks focused on several key areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Washington. Among the priorities was Ukraine’s participation in the PURL initiative, which aims to finance the production and procurement of U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. Zelenskyy underscored Ukraine’s expectation of a favorable response from the United States to accelerate delivery of these critical systems.
Another major point of discussion was bilateral agreements on the co-production of drones and other weapons, a proposal Zelenskyy said Ukraine has already put forward to U.S. officials. Such agreements would not only boost Ukraine’s defense capacity but also deepen long-term defense industry ties between the two countries.
The leaders also examined strategies for increasing pressure on Russia through tariff measures and sanctions coordination with allied nations. Zelenskyy noted that greater alignment on economic pressure could create momentum for a high-level leaders’ meeting designed to push forward concrete steps toward ending the war.
“A trilateral leaders’ format is undoubtedly the most effective,” Zelenskyy said, suggesting that a joint approach involving Ukraine, the United States, and other partners would carry the most weight in shaping outcomes.
The meeting comes as Ukraine continues to call for stronger Western support in air defense, weapons production, and economic sanctions, while also seeking pathways to a diplomatic resolution. Zelenskyy’s discussions with Kellogg reflect Kyiv’s dual strategy of enhancing defense capabilities on the battlefield and working toward a sustainable framework for peace.
