Trump is set to welcome Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian leader travels to Washington to honor Graham, whose final act as a public official was visiting Kyiv<\/a> and securing an agreement on a package of sanctions that seek to punish countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy posted on X early Tuesday that he had arrived in the U.S. and listed the goals for his visit.<\/p>\n \u201cOur schedule includes meetings with President Trump, his team, and those who can support our defense,\u201d the Ukrainian leader said. \u201cOur number one priority is anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with America. Peace needs to be brought closer.\u201d<\/p>\n Zelenskyy is now being bolstered by an unusual source: Laura Loomer, known primarily for her incendiary social media posts<\/a> and her influence with the president. Traveling through Ukraine, Loomer has witnessed Moscow\u2019s barrage firsthand and interviewed Zelenskyy while admitting she was \u201cbamboozled by Russian propaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, July 10, 2026. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)\n<\/p>\n FILE \u2013 Ukraine\u2019s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looks on during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8, 2026. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon, File)\n<\/p>\n In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Laura Loomer, right, interviews Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday July 23, 2026, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)\n<\/p>\n Show Caption<\/p>\n 1 of 3<\/p>\n In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, July 10, 2026. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)\n<\/p>\n Expand<\/a><\/p>\n Loomer said she spoke to Trump after she met with Zelenskyy in Ukraine last week, and she also expects to meet with the U.S. president once she returns from her trip.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s looking good for Ukraine, right?\u201d Loomer said during an interview with The Associated Press<\/a>. \u201cGoing into this meeting next week at the Oval Office is looking pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy has also warned that Russia has been aiding Iran as the war persists by capturing satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iran. The Ukrainian president also asserted that there was a \u201cclear correlation\u201d between Russia\u2019s images and subsequent Iranian strikes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose is clear,\u201d Zelenskyy said earlier this month. \u201cNone of us in the world should turn a blind eye to one very simple fact: Evil always seeks ways to make things worse and spread further.\u201d<\/p>\n On Monday, Trump downplayed any impact of potential Russian assistance for Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ve been doing it, certainly not at a high level,\u201d Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to Michigan. \u201cAnd if they have, it has been very un-impactful.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, he said he would raise the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy has a busy itinerary during his latest visit to Washington. In addition to his White House meeting, Zelenskyy will head to the Capitol to meet with senators on Tuesday evening after Graham\u2019s funeral at Washington National Cathedral, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n Republican leadership is hoping to advance Graham\u2019s sanctions legislation<\/a> this week, although the Senate is juggling several other priorities before lawmakers leave Washington for the August recess.<\/p>\n The bill has dozens of backers from both parties and is seen as the main policy tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly this month<\/a> from a tear in his aorta. It imposes tariffs on goods from the world\u2019s top five purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas, including China and India.<\/p>\n The legislation also includes sanctions against Putin, senior Russian political and military leaders, and Russian financial institutions and energy projects.<\/p>\n![\"Ukrainian](\"https:\/\/www.orlandosentinel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Russia_Ukraine_War_U.S._697_5_95a734.jpg?w=620\")
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