Volodymyr Zelensky just had the kind of Washington day he could only have wished for last year, according to a Politico analysis. The Ukrainian president left an Oval Office meeting with President Trump in a buoyant mood and then watched from the Senate gallery as lawmakers overwhelmingly advanced sanctions targeting countries that buy Russian oil—a central piece of his pressure campaign on Moscow. Trump called it a "great honor" to meet with Zelensky and said the meeting went "very well," per the AP, marking a sharp contrast with Zelensky's rocky 2025 visit. Meanwhile, the Senate vote underscored how opinion in Washington has tilted toward the idea that Ukraine can actually beat Russia, according to the analysis.
Lawmakers from both parties said battlefield gains have shifted perceptions, with Sen. John Boozman noting Ukraine's "success" as key. Sen. Mike Rounds said Zelensky argued tougher sanctions could push Vladimir Putin into negotiations by stoking domestic anger over the war. Zelensky also pressed for permission to produce Patriot air defense systems, more PAC-3 interceptors, and assured Starlink access. The sanctions package, championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and backed by visiting Finnish President Alexander Stubb, is still not guaranteed: Senate leaders hope to move it quickly, but the White House has offered only muted support and the House remains a question mark—as does Trump, whose positions have shifted before.
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