Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday welcomed some unique American visitors, including a leading defense contractor and a controversial political activist.
According to the Washington Post, Zelensky met in Kyiv with senior officials from Raytheon, including Vice President Joseph DeAntona. Raytheon produces Patriot air missile defense systems.
President Zelensky of Ukraine. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Capt. Michael Terry, 36th Fighter Squadron F-16 pilot, prepares to launch at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, July 9, 2020. The 36th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the flight line operators wokred to make this aircraft mission-capable after being grounded for 186 days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan)
“Missiles for Patriot systems are the number one priority,” Zelensky said Thursday, per the Post.
In early July, President Donald Trump said that he would grant Ukraine a license to make Patriot missile systems.
On social media, Zelensky posted a video of himself meeting with the executives and touting the success of the meeting.
“Raytheon is a very strong defense company, and Ukraine has long been using its equipment to protect our people from vicious Russian attacks,” Zelensky said on social media.
“I am grateful for the company’s readiness to take our partnership to an even higher level, where Ukraine would co-produce, together with Raytheon, some of the most vital air defense assets – Patriot interceptors.
This is what President Trump and I discussed in Ankara, and it’s time we moved forward on this,” the Ukrainian leader added.
The sides, he added, would “stay in touch” to iron out details of the agreement.
Zelensky added that he and Raytheon also discussed other weapons, including “non-offensive military equipment.”
The Kyiv Independent noted that receiving Patriot systems is easier said than done.
“As the most advanced Western-manufactured air defense system and the only one capable of consistently shooting down Russian ballistic missiles, the Patriot is in high demand, with years-long waiting lists both for the batteries themselves and for the interceptor missiles.”
Zelensky and Loomer
The Ukrainian leader had another meeting on Thursday, with the American influencer and social media figure Laura Loomer. The Post described the meeting as “another sign that Ukraine is changing minds in Washington.”
Loomer posted a video clip from the interview, in which she asked Zelensky about the moment in early 2025 when the Ukrainian president was dressed down by Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.
After Trump came back into office promising to end the war on day one, that moment was an indication that robust support for Ukraine by the U.S. was a thing of the past.
Loomer asked about how the tone has shifted since then, and Zelensky answered that he and Trump “had a changing moment in Rome.”
“We changed the [relationship] just in 15, 20 minutes,” Zelensky added.
Trump shared Loomer’s clip on Truth Social.
Loomer is something of a controversial figure, a Trump ultra-loyalist who has been accused of various forms of bigotry over the years; years ago, she was banned for a time from every social media platform. But perhaps more notable is that she was not always much of a supporter of the pro-Ukraine cause.
During the Biden presidency, during the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine war, she was often critical of the U.S. efforts to help Ukraine, once calling it “a country full of Nazi apologists.”
“I often said I don’t care,” Loomer said in a social media post this week, in a rare apology. “Looking back, that wasn’t very nice of me to say. We need to have moral clarity.”
Her visit to Ukraine and meeting with Zelensky is a sign that the rank-and-file of the MAGA movement is beginning to shift their stance on that conflict.
Some segments of the right, led by the likes of Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene, remain opposed to U.S. support of Ukraine, but Loomer’s change is significant.
Coming to America
Meanwhile, journalist Misha Komadovsky reported Friday that Zelensky plans to visit Washington next week to attend the funeral of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Graham was a longtime staunch supporter of Ukraine’s defense, who visited Kyiv just days before his death.
The Ukrainian leader also hopes to meet with Trump.
“ A meeting with President Trump is also being arranged — officials are still finalizing the format, whether a sideline meeting at the funeral, a private sit-down, or an official White House visit,” the report said.
The two had held a sideline meeting at Pope Francis’ funeral in April of 2025, which was the “history-changing” moment that Zelensky referenced in the interview with Loomer.
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
