Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington D.C. on August 17th, with plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders on August 18th. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the invitation and a shared desire for a "lasting" and "reliable" end to the war. President Zelenskyy stated he arrived in Washington and is scheduled to meet President Trump, as well as European leaders, on August 18th. He emphasized a mutual goal of ending the war quickly and reliably, advocating for a "lasting peace" and asserting that "Ukraine did not give up Crimea" nor parts of the East. Zelenskyy also highlighted current Ukrainian successes in the Donetsk and Sumy regions and expressed confidence in defending Ukraine and securing its safety, thanking President Trump and international partners for their support. French President Emmanuel Macron is also scheduled to depart for the United States on August 18th. Reports indicate that European leaders will meet with President Trump at the White House before President Zelenskyy's bilateral meeting. Information regarding the specifics of the "Sapsan Tactical Ballistic Missile System" development program and alleged rocket specifications was also released, alongside satellite imagery detailing the aftermath of Russian strikes on Ukrainian defense industry facilities. These facilities, targeted by Russian Armed Forces according to FSB intelligence, include the Pavlohrad Chemical Plant, its reserve facility (PŠ„Z) in Vakalenchuk, Zhytomyr Oblast, the Pavlohrad Mechanical Plant, and the Shostka State Plant āZvezdaā and Shostka State Research Institute of Chemical Products in Sumy Oblast. The Pavlohrad Chemical Plant is noted as Ukraine's sole facility for solid fuel production. Former Vice President Mike Pence commented on the situation, stating that "no deal is better than a bad deal" and that Putin is the "bad guy" responsible for the invasion, emphasizing the need for America and its allies to stand strongly with Ukraine. Analyst commentary suggests that conditions presented by Putin may have been framed as acceptable to Trump, shifting responsibility to Ukraine and Europe. One report mentioned the discovery of a "child" in an unspecified context, attributed to Ihor Terekhov.
