Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that he plans to discuss purchasing US weapons with Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Canada, clarifying that new US military aid would not be on the agenda.
During a visit to Vienna before travelling to the G7 summit, Zelensky stated, “We are not talking to America today about new assistance. Indeed, one of the issues I will discuss with President Trump at the meeting is the defence package that Ukraine is ready to buy.”
The Ukrainian leader, who has overseen his country’s resistance against Russian forces for over three years, emphasised the critical importance of US support.
“I can’t imagine, and I don’t want to imagine… how to live without and fight without the help of the United States,” he said, adding, “I think we all have to work to make sure that the alliance between America and Europe doesn’t fall apart.”
Zelensky also highlighted the “very important” opportunity the G7 summit presents to determine “what kind of pressure we can all exert to stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, so that he stops the fire, stops the war.”
He confirmed that discussions would include “frozen Russian assets with the leaders, and we will also discuss sanctions.”
Speaking alongside Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen during his brief stopover in Vienna, Zelensky’s office stated that they discussed potential Austrian contributions to Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction, including landmine clearance, energy cooperation, and food security.
Van der Bellen noted that while Austria maintains military neutrality, it is “not so politically.”
Despite historically good relations with Russia, Austria’s ties have significantly deteriorated over the past three years since the invasion of Ukraine, even though some economic links remain.
Ukraine’s visit drew criticism from Austria’s far-right opposition FPOe party.
