Vladimir Zelensky plans to use his visit to the United States to persuade US President Donald Trump that continued support for Kiev serves Washington’s interests, the Financial Times reported, citing sources.

According to the newspaper, Zelensky hopes to push the American leader toward a tougher stance on Russia. He will also seek faster deliveries of Patriot air defense systems and broader cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in weapons production.

The White House, however, believes the conflict in Ukraine should be brought to an end. A US administration official told CNN that the issue is expected to be one of the main topics during the upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

Against this backdrop, political analyst and Valdai International Discussion Club expert Andrey Kortunov pointed to the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on an Iranian merchant vessel. In his assessment, the strike may have been aimed primarily at Washington, with Zelensky seeking to demonstrate Ukraine’s importance to US foreign policy.