United News of Bangladesh

Former U.S. President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer has spread to other parts of his body and is causing him significant pain, his son Hunter Biden has said. In an emotional and wide-ranging interview with the BBC broadcast late Friday, Hunter Biden spoke about his 83-year-old father’s health, saying the cancer has metastasized to his bones and beyond. “It’s very painful and it’s very debilitating in many respects,” Hunter Biden said, describing the situation as deeply difficult for the family. Joe Biden, who was the oldest person to serve as president of the United States, faced persistent concerns about his age and health during his four years in office. His administration and advisers also came under criticism over allegations that the extent of his health problems had not been fully disclosed. Those concerns intensified after Biden ended his 2024 reelection campaign following a widely criticized debate performance against Donald Trump, who later succeeded him as president. Biden disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025, less than four months after leaving the White House. Hunter Biden said the diagnosis had been particularly difficult for the family and expressed concern about his father’s condition. “It’s really sad to watch,” he said, adding that he wished his father would complain more about his health because “it’s not good.” Despite his illness, however, Joe Biden continues to speak publicly about issues he considers important, his son said. “He’s still doing his thing,” Hunter Biden said. “He so believes in this country.” The former president is also set to publish a memoir titled “Promise Me, America” following the 2026 midterm elections.

The Pentagon is urging US defense companies to accelerate weapons production to replenish its reduced stockpile of munitions, including weapons used during the ongoing war with Iran. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Saturday that the department is actively working to increase munitions purchases to provide “the weapons our warfighters need at the pace the threat demands.” He confirmed that the Pentagon has taken steps over the past week to significantly speed up the process, but said the effort is part of a broader military modernization drive that began before the five-month-old conflict. Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg sent a memo to defense industry leaders on Wednesday giving them no more than 21 days to submit plans to “drive significantly faster, more aggressive delivery schedules and/or increased production for critical capabilities,” according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. “Years-long development cycles are not acceptable,” Feinberg wrote. “We must dramatically accelerate our program schedules and expand our production capacity now.” The memo comes amid concerns that recent fighting with Iran has further depleted the US military’s already reduced stockpiles of advanced missile interceptors, potentially leaving American troops more vulnerable if hostilities resume, according to a new analysis. Reduced inventories of Patriot and THAAD interceptors could force the US and its Middle Eastern allies to take greater risks in conserving those air-defense systems, according to an analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank. For instance, US forces could fire fewer interceptors at incoming Iranian drones and missiles, increasing the possibility that some could get through, the analysis said. President Donald Trump has in recent days pushed back against reports of a US munitions shortage. In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, he said the US has “massive amounts” of weapons and added that “large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the U.S. as needed.” Parnell on Saturday confirmed that Feinberg’s memo calling for a rapid increase in weapons production is “real.” He said the initiative “will inform the fiscal year 2028 budget submitted to Congress for funding” and is fully in line with the Pentagon’s ongoing effort to rebuild the US defense industrial base. A defense spending bill remains stalled in Congress, where lawmakers have expressed anger over Trump’s military action against Iran and opposition to the White House request to sharply increase Pentagon spending to $1.5 trillion, from about $900 billion last year. The number of Patriot interceptors fell from 2,330 before the war to 1,030 when the April ceasefire took effect, according to a CSIS estimate released last month. Following the latest fighting, the stockpile is now estimated at between 759 and 827 interceptors, representing a decline of at least 65% from the level before the conflict began. The number of THAAD interceptors declined from 452 before the war to between 232 and 262 at the beginning of the April ceasefire, CSIS said. The US was able to replenish some of its THAAD inventory, bringing the estimated stockpile to between 234 and 278 interceptors. However, the stockpile remains at least 38% below its pre-conflict level.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that while overall US ammunition stockpiles remain sufficient, supplies of some types are under increasing strain. Speaking at the White House Oval Office, Trump said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of some munitions, while others are “a little bit tighter,” without providing details. His remarks came two days after reports said the US military had used nearly 80 percent of interceptors for a key missile defense system during the war with Iran, with commanders warning that ammunition stocks were “dangerously low.” The Atlantic, citing current and former defense officials, reported that supplies of long-range weapons and advanced interceptors, including Patriot and THAAD missiles, had fallen to as low as 20 percent of desired levels. Five months into the war, US public support for the prolonged conflict has weakened. A media poll found Americans who expect greater instability in the Middle East outnumber those expecting more stability by three to one. A Marquette University Law School poll found inflation and cost of living were the top public concerns, followed by the economy and then the Iran conflict. Since January, 56 percent have cited inflation and living costs as a primary or secondary concern. Labor Department data showed inflation rose to 3.3 percent in March, 4.2 percent in May and 3.5 percent in June, above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target. Meanwhile, uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continues to threaten energy security. US crude imports from Saudi Arabia fell to zero in July, the first full month without such imports since 1985. Trump said Thursday that no deal had been finalized to reopen the waterway, but negotiations with Iran were continuing and an agreement could be reached soon. Saudi-based  media, citing senior sources, reported that Iran and Oman had reached an understanding on reopening the Strait for 60 days, pending approval by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

The United States will host the International High-level Forum of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) groundbreaking Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington on August 26-27. The landmark event will bring together ministers, policymakers, regulators and industry leaders from around the world to chart a bold path toward the deployment of safe and secure civil applications for nuclear energy at sea, according to the US Department of State. Nuclear energy holds tremendous promise for transforming commercial shipping, including by enabling faster maritime transport without the need for frequent refueling. Cutting-edge innovations, such as floating nuclear power plants powered by advanced small modular reactors, could provide reliable energy to remote and coastal communities and support industrial breakthroughs in desalination and offshore energy production.   Through ATLAS, the IAEA will bring together the full spectrum of stakeholders, from Member States to industry innovators, to address the legal, regulatory and technical challenges standing between vision and reality. On August 25, the US will host an Industry Day highlighting America’s leading nuclear and maritime innovators and showcasing US leadership at the frontier of civil maritime nuclear technology. The US is ensuring that America’s steadfast commitment to safety, security and nonproliferation shapes the future of ATLAS. ATLAS represents a first-of-its-kind opportunity, whose success will depend on strong and sustained collaboration among IAEA Member States, the International Maritime Organization, port authorities, nuclear and maritime regulators and industry. Together, this global partnership will help usher in a new era of credible, scalable nuclear energy on the high seas and deliver on President Trump’s pledge to revitalize innovation in nuclear technologies and expand access to nuclear power.

Activity at Guatemala’s Fuego volcano, which began Monday morning and prompted widespread evacuations, is gradually declining, authorities said Wednesday. However, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction, or CONRED, urged people to remain cautious as rainfall from a tropical wave moving from the east could trigger potentially deadly volcanic mudflows known as lahars. CONRED also confirmed that some people evacuated between Monday and Tuesday had voluntarily returned to their homes. “But the eruptive activity continues, and it is recommended to follow the authorities’ instructions regarding preventive evacuation,” the agency said. Around 1,700 people have been evacuated from at least 18 communities on the slopes of Fuego, or the Volcano of Fire, since the eruption began Monday. No deaths or damage have been reported. Live broadcasts of the volcano have shown periods of clear conditions followed by ash emissions. Early Tuesday, the volcano sent lava about 300 meters (984 feet) into the air, prompting red alerts and evacuations, the closure of a highway and the suspension of classes in three departments. Fuego, one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes, stands 3,768 meters (12,300 feet) high and is classified as a stratovolcano, a tall, cone-shaped volcano formed by layers of hardened lava, ash and rock. It is located between the departments of Escuintla, Chimaltenango and Sacatepéquez in southern and central Guatemala, about 53 kilometers (33 miles) from the capital. An eruption on June 3, 2018, killed hundreds of people, destroyed an entire community and affected up to 1.7 million people. Another eruption last year also prompted preventive evacuations.

A man carrying ammunition and with a gun in his vehicle was arrested Sunday at President Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course after appearing to monitor security preparations ahead of Trump’s fundraiser there on Tuesday, authorities said. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Jeanine John Taele, 38, took photos and video and had a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket. A search of his pickup truck in the golf course parking lot turned up a loaded 9mm pistol, binoculars and a badge that read “security protection agent.” according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. Law enforcement searched his home in the nearby city of Downey on Monday and found a rifle and other firearms, magazines and ammunition, body armor and notebooks with “concerning statements," federal authorities said. No details about the statements were released. The sheriff’s department announced the arrest as Trump was preparing to arrive for the Republican National Committee dinner Tuesday at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes just south of Los Angeles. “Mr. Taele’s troubling behavior at the President’s public golf course merely days before the President was expected to arrive raised serious red flags for law enforcement,” Patrick Grandy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said in a statement. “There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life.” Last year a jury found a man guilty of trying to assassinate Trump at the president’s Florida country club. And while a candidate in 2024, Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by a shooter on a roof at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Ahead of Tuesday’s event, federal agents conducted a security assessment last Friday at the Trump course near Los Angeles. A person later identified as Taele was seen walking throughout the course, wore an earpiece and took photographs and videos of federal agents’ activities, authorities said. Taele drove away but then returned to the course Sunday. He approached federal agents and said he was employed by the State Department and was there for a security detail. Taele said he had a loaded weapon in his vehicle and was arrested after it was searched, according to federal officials. Taele was charged with several felonies including second-degree robbery, receiving a large-capacity magazine and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun. He was also charged with carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, a misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges Monday and was ordered to stay away from the golf course and not possess weapons. His bail was set at $250,000. It wasn’t clear if Taele had an attorney, and family members could not immediately be reached for comment.

U.S. President Donald Trump said a deal on the Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday or Thursday, while Iran and Oman inched toward an agreement to reopen the critical waterway and potentially help bring an end to the war.   Trump was asked by reporters traveling with him in California about a report on the Axios news site that an announcement on the Strait of Hormuz could be made on Wednesday.   “It could happen. Tomorrow or the next day,” he said, speaking on Tuesday evening California time, which was already Wednesday morning in the Middle East. “A lot of progress has been made.”   Oil prices eased on hopes of progress for a deal that would allow oil tankers to freely exit the Persian Gulf again and deliver crude around the world. Brent crude, the international standard, slipped by 1.2% to $78.43 per barrel early Wednesday.   The agreement would see routes controlled by Iran and Oman, regional officials tell AP   The possible agreement emerging from talks between Iran and Oman calls for ships to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, two regional officials told The Associated Press. Service fees would be charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, the officials said.   The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations.   The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control over the strait, which was an open international waterway before the the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. About one fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas passed through the strait, but shipping through the waterway has been reduced to a trickle at best by Iran’s attacks since the start of the war.   In an exchange with reporters on Monday, the U.S. president reiterated his public opposition to tolls being charged in the strait. “I’m not going to let them charge,” Trump said. “Anybody’s going to charge, we’ll charge.”   The regional officials said negotiations are still underway and that the final agreement could take a different form, with any deal linked to lifting the U.S. blockade on Iran’s ports.   US and Iranian officials say progress is being made   Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tuesday that Tehran’s talks with Oman were focused on “establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes,” routes that “uphold sovereign rights while also addressing the national security considerations of both Iran and Oman.”   “The final results of these negotiations will be announced once concluded,” he added, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.   U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed progress had been made in those talks, “but not finality yet.”   Rubio has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control over the strait, saying last month that would create a “very dangerous precedent” for other parts of the world.   U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that “there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”   Arab countries seek to broker an end to the war   Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said he also spoke to Trump by phone on Tuesday as the Arab country tries to broker a resolution to the war.   Al Thani’s office said the two discussed ways to bridge the divide “in a way that enhances the prospects of reaching a sustainable diplomatic settlement to the crisis.”   Trump is under mounting pressure to end an unpopular war that has driven up gas prices ahead of midterm elections and drawn down U.S. supplies of some munitions. In recent days, he has again alternately threatened massive strikes and voiced support for diplomatic efforts.   Trump said Monday that the U.S. was in talks with Iran, saying it was Tehran’s “last chance” to reach a deal and avoid another U.S. military escalation.   “The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization,” Trump said. “And that will take a little while.”   Iran has denied it is negotiating with the U.S., saying the talks are only with Oman.   Ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz and in Red Sea   An Indian-flagged commercial ship sank Tuesday in the Red Sea off Yemen after being struck by an explosive-laden boat, Yemeni and Indian authorities said.   Yemen’s coast guard rescued the crew, which included 13 Indians and a Yemeni.   There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants have repeatedly struck ships traversing the Red Sea near Yemen.   Last month, the Houthis announced they were closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that leads to the Red Sea for Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen and an attack on the international airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa.   Earlier Tuesday, a cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” while traversing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center.   The center said the reported strike damaged the vessel at around 2 a.m. local time while it was about 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of Al Khasab, a port city in Oman. The British maritime security firm Ambrey said the ship sustained damage.  

The administration of US President Donald Trump has notified Congress of plans to close five smaller American diplomatic missions in Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere as part of an effort to streamline overseas operations and reduce costs. According to notifications sent to lawmakers last week, the US State Department intends to shut down the US Embassy in Grenada, the consulates in Nagoya, Japan, and Medan, Indonesia, the American Presence Post in Winnipeg, Canada, and an embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon. The department estimates the closures will save about $4.4 million annually, according to the notices obtained by The Associated Press. The affected missions are relatively small in terms of staffing. The embassy in St. George's, Grenada, and the consulate in Nagoya each have one US diplomat and five locally employed staff. The Medan consulate has four American personnel and 47 local employees, while the Winnipeg office employs two local staff members. The branch office in Douala has 14 locally hired employees. Earlier this year, the State Department also announced plans to permanently close the US consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which had served as the closest American diplomatic mission to Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops in 2021. The planned closures are part of a broader restructuring of the State Department's global operations. At the same time, Washington is investing in restoring its diplomatic presence in countries where political changes have created new opportunities. The administration is moving ahead with plans to reopen US embassies in Damascus, Syria, and Tripoli, Libya, while the embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, has already resumed operations following the removal of the countries' long-time rulers.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday ahead of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral, discussing ways for Ukraine to produce more powerful weapons and “other ideas that could help” in its ongoing war with Russia. The Oval Office meeting, which was closed to the media, followed a significant meeting at the NATO summit earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump announced that the United States would give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot defense systems — a long-standing request from Kyiv to help counter Russian missile attacks. The meetings highlight how Trump, who was once a major skeptic of continued US assistance to Ukraine, has grown more supportive of Zelenskyy as Ukraine continues to withstand Russia’s attacks more than four years after Moscow launched its invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy’s relationship with Trump during the president’s second term was previously strained following a contentious White House visit during which the Ukrainian leader was criticized for appearing ungrateful. Since then, Zelenskyy has sought closer ties with the Republican administration and has relied on both expected and unexpected allies in Trump’s circle to influence the president. The conflict in the Middle East, which has taken up much of the Trump administration’s attention this year, has also increasingly become linked to the Ukraine war. Ukraine fired on at least one Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea over the weekend, while Zelenskyy has accused Russia of providing satellite images of US bases in the Persian Gulf to Iran. After the meeting, Zelenskyy said on social media that he had a “good meeting” with Trump and thanked the Republican administration for its efforts to support Kyiv in the prolonged war. Officials also agreed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s main envoys, would travel to Kyiv at some point in the future, according to a person familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed to the media. “The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” Zelenskyy said. He also expressed condolences to Trump over Graham’s death, describing the senator as a close ally. “We also spoke about diplomacy — it's important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated,” Zelenskyy said. Trump later described the meeting as a “Great Honor” and said on Truth Social that “many things were discussed” and that “the meeting went very well.” Zelenskyy seeks to boost Ukraine’s defense production During his one-day visit to Washington, Zelenskyy also met with officials from Lockheed Martin to discuss further cooperation in defense production and technology exchanges. “Ukraine has a lot to share with those who help us protect lives,” he wrote on social media. Later, in a meeting with senators at the Capitol, Zelenskyy again made the case for Ukraine’s need for Patriot interceptors and urged support for a broad sanctions bill aimed at weakening Russian morale and increasing pressure on Moscow, according to two people familiar with the private discussion. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door meeting. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute, said increasing production of Patriot interceptors was important not only for Ukraine but also for the United States and its Gulf allies, particularly as supplies decline amid the war involving Iran. “Ukraine has shown that its defense industry is capable, innovative and creative,” Coffey said. He said he expected Ukraine to be able to produce the missiles once it receives the license, which could also increase their availability for the United States. Trump welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian president traveled to Washington to honor Graham. The senator’s final public act had been a visit to Kyiv, where he helped secure an agreement on a sanctions package aimed at countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports. In an interview with Fox News Channel on Tuesday, Trump recalled Graham’s strong support for Ukraine and said the South Carolina Republican senator’s position on the war had never changed. Trump said Graham had suggested it was time to reach a deal with Iran but had made no similar proposal regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. “Ukraine, he's very militant about,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you.” The Trump administration’s closer engagement with Zelenskyy comes as far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has the president’s ear, has recently changed her views on Russia’s war against Ukraine. Loomer, who is known for provocative social media posts and her influence with Trump, has traveled through Ukraine, witnessed Russian attacks firsthand and interviewed Zelenskyy. She has acknowledged being “bamboozled by Russian propaganda.” Loomer said she spoke with Trump after meeting Zelenskyy in Ukraine last week and expects to meet with the president after returning from her trip. Ukraine highlights Russia-Iran ties Before meeting Trump, Zelenskyy warned that Russia has been assisting Iran by obtaining satellite images of US bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iranian hands. The Ukrainian president also said there was a “clear correlation” between the Russian images and subsequent Iranian strikes. Iran is a key Russian ally in the war against Ukraine and has helped Moscow develop its drone capabilities. Trump, however, played down the significance of possible Russian assistance to Iran on Monday, although he said he would raise the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I don't think they've been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Michigan. “And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.” Regarding the attack on the Caspian Sea, the foreign ministers of Iran and Ukraine discussed the incident Tuesday, according to statements posted on social media. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described the conversation as “frank” and said Ukraine’s focus was “solely at defending our country from Russian aggression” and that it had never intended to target civilian vessels or people. Iran said at least one sailor was killed in the attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran also did not seek escalation but made clear that “any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable” and that there “must be restitution for losses.” Pro-Ukraine lawmakers push sanctions bill Zelenskyy had a packed schedule during his latest Washington visit. At his Capitol meeting, held shortly before a key vote on the Russia sanctions bill and after Graham’s funeral, the Ukrainian leader argued that there was an opportunity to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, according to one person familiar with the discussion. The Senate took the first steps toward passing legislation in an 86-12 vote that would penalize countries continuing to purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports after more than a year of negotiations. The bill has support from dozens of lawmakers from both major political parties and is seen as a major policy tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly this month from a tear in his aorta. The legislation would impose tariffs on goods from the world’s five largest buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including China and India. It also includes sanctions against Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, Russian financial institutions and energy projects.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, seeking deeper cooperation with Washington on defence and peace efforts as the two leaders held their second meeting this month. The meeting took place ahead of the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of Ukraine who had recently visited Kyiv and helped secure a sanctions package targeting countries that buy Russian oil, gas and other exports. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Zelenskyy said on social media that his top priorities were strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities and expanding strategic cooperation with Washington. “Peace needs to be brought closer,” Zelenskyy said as he arrived at the White House. A White House official said Trump planned to discuss the ongoing peace process between Russia and Ukraine during the closed-door talks. Trump also reflected on Graham’s strong support for Ukraine, saying the senator had consistently backed Kyiv and had pushed for a deal to end the war. However, Trump noted that Graham had not taken the same approach regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict as he had on Iran. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has received unexpected support from Laura Loomer, a conservative activist known for her influence among Trump’s supporters. After visiting Ukraine and meeting Zelenskyy, Loomer said she had changed her views after witnessing the impact of Russia’s attacks firsthand and acknowledged she had been influenced by Russian propaganda. Loomer said she discussed her Ukraine visit with Trump and believed the situation was favourable for Kyiv ahead of Zelenskyy’s White House meeting. Before the talks, Zelenskyy accused Russia of assisting Iran by providing satellite images of US military bases in the Gulf region that were later used in Iranian attacks. He said there was a clear connection between Russian imagery and subsequent strikes. Trump, however, played down the significance of any possible Russian assistance to Iran, saying he did not believe Moscow had provided substantial help. He added that he would raise the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During his Washington visit, Zelenskyy is also scheduled to meet US senators at the Capitol following Graham’s funeral. Republican leaders are seeking to move forward with Graham’s sanctions legislation, which has support from lawmakers of both major parties. The bill includes tariffs on goods from major buyers of Russian energy, including China and India, as well as sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior officials, financial institutions and energy projects. Trump and Zelenskyy previously met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month, where Trump announced that the United States would help Ukraine produce Patriot air defence systems — a long-standing request from Kyiv to counter Russian missile attacks. Trump said Washington and Kyiv had developed a good relationship and that Ukraine would be able to manufacture the advanced defence systems relatively quickly with US assistance.