President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US had requested Ukraine’s support in defending against Iranian drone attacks in the Middle East on Thursday, as US President Donald Trump warned him to “get on the ball” in US-led peace negotiations with Russia.
Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine – which he renewed in November 2025 with a 28-point plan for peace drafted with the aid of Kremlin officials – has stalled partly due to US-Israeli military action against Iran. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed killed on Saturday.
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In an interview with Politico, Trump said that Zelensky “has to get on the ball, and he has to get a deal done.”
Despite all evidence to the contrary, the US president also repeated his frequent assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “ready to make a deal.”
“It’s unthinkable that [Zelensky is] the obstacle. You don’t have the cards. Now he’s got even less cards,” Trump added – appearing to reference an infamous argument with Zelensky in the Oval Office on Feb. 28, 2025.
“You don’t have the cards right now,” Trump said at the time – with Zelensky responding that “we’re not playing cards right now, I am very serious.”
Although Ukrainian and US delegations met in Geneva on Feb. 26 to prepare for trilateral talks with Russia, Zelensky said on Wednesday that Kyiv had not received the “necessary signals” for the negotiations – originally slated for early March – to go ahead.
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Despite this, lines of communication between Kyiv and Washington remain very much open. Zelensky and lead Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov communicate with the US administration on “practically a daily basis,” he added.
The news, shared by Zelensky on X, that the US has asked Ukraine for help in defending against Iran’s retaliatory drone strikes on the Middle East, would appear to support this.
“We received a request from the United States for specific support in protection against ‘shaheds’ in the Middle East region,” Zelensky said. “I gave instructions to provide the necessary means and ensure the presence of Ukrainian specialists who can guarantee the required security.”
Later on Thursday, Zelensky appeared to respond to Trump’s comments about the peace negotiations with Russia – saying that Kyiv’s priority is “to do everything to end the war.”
“We will continue the diplomatic process when our American partners are ready to work as we agreed – bilateral formats with them, trilateral formats with Russia, as well as work with the Europeans.”
“Right now, practically all of the world’s attention is focused on the situation around Iran, and no matter how long the hostilities last there, we must be ready to resume diplomacy at any moment. That’s exactly how the Ukrainian team works,” he added.
The president previously met with defense, intelligence, and military officials to discuss Ukraine’s possible role in the defense of US allies in the Gulf, which are bearing the brunt of Iranian attacks.
“Ukraine helps partners who help ensure our security and protect the lives of our people,” Zelensky said. “Glory to Ukraine!”