Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that he and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to work together to enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, following the most extensive Russian drone and missile barrage since the beginning of the war.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelensky described the phone call with Trump as "in-depth," noting that the two leaders "discussed air defense possibilities and agreed to work together to strengthen the protection of our airspace."

The announcement came in the wake of a devastating overnight assault on Ukrainian cities, which officials say resulted in at least 23 fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage.

Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak characterized the call between Zelensky and Trump as “rich and very important,” highlighting the urgency of international support amid continued Russian escalation.

Trump–Putin Talks Yield No Ceasefire

The Zelensky-Trump call followed a separate conversation between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. According to Trump, the discussion failed to yield "any progress" toward a ceasefire in Ukraine.

The Kremlin, in its readout, reiterated that Russia "will not abandon" its objectives in the conflict but stated that Moscow remains committed to continued negotiations.

"President Putin assured that Russia is ready to remain engaged in diplomatic talks," the Kremlin added, even as peace negotiations have largely stalled and the U.S. has suspended certain arms shipments to Kyiv in recent weeks.

Stalemate in Peace Efforts

The latest developments unfold amid a prolonged deadlock in peace talks aimed at ending the over three-year-long conflict. Moscow has repeatedly insisted that the “root causes” of the war must be addressed, demanding that Kyiv formally renounce its ambitions to join NATO—an issue that remains a key point of contention.

Despite mounting international pressure and growing humanitarian concerns, both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with no breakthrough in sight.