In Kyiv, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse.
The Head of State thanked the senators for their consistent bipartisan support for Ukraine and expressed special gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and his team.
During the meeting, they discussed strengthening sanctions against Russia, particularly targeting nuclear energy and Russia’s tanker fleet. The Head of State emphasized that it is important for the United States to actively cooperate with the European Union not only to detain tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet, but also to confiscate the oil they transport.
“We very much count on your decision, your future decision. I hope the Senate will support the sanctioning act. This is very important for us. We do not see many instruments to influence Putin, to put pressure on Russia, to stop this war. The number one tool is sanctions policy,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President of Ukraine and the U.S. senators also discussed the situation on the frontline and the negotiation process to achieve a dignified peace. The Head of State informed them about preparations for a meeting of negotiating teams in Geneva.
In addition, they addressed Russian strikes against American companies operating in Ukraine. The parties condemned these attacks and stressed that Russia must be held accountable for the crime of aggression.
The President and the U.S. senators also paid attention to Ukraine’s energy support. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for its rapid response to the needs of Ukraine’s energy sector. According to him, a meeting in the format of the energy “Ramstein” will take place in France this week, and Ukraine has a list of specific equipment needed for energy recovery.
They also discussed using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s needs. It would be appropriate to direct them toward purchasing missiles for the Patriot systems, which can strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
The meeting also addressed efforts to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. The Head of State emphasized that Russia is holding thousands of abducted Ukrainian children, over 1,800 of whom have been returned home. Volodymyr Zelenskyy added that the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children will hold meetings with partners in Brussels and the United States with the participation of the First Lady of the United States.
Richard Blumenthal informed about the meeting with Ukrainian children who had been returned from Russia and stressed that the United States must impose additional sanctions against Russia and strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
“We are now very determined to work on sanctions, on the return of children, on providing Tomahawks and interceptors – everything you need to achieve victory. And to fight those false narratives that Russia is supposedly winning. It is not winning either on the battlefield or morally,” Richard Blumenthal said.