Zelenskyy Meets US Envoy Kellogg in Rome Ahead of Ukraine Recovery Conference

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg in Rome ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025), aimed at mobilizing private investment and raising approximately $585 billion for Ukraine's reconstruction following the Russian invasion. Kellogg, appointed by President Donald Trump, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, advocating for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic talks. The meeting occurred amid temporary pauses in U.S. weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot missile systems, which Trump later clarified were halted without White House notification. Zelensky also met with Pope Leo XIV and Italian President Sergio Mattarella during his visit. The conference, hosted in Rome on July 10-11, is expected to draw international leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen to discuss Ukraine's recovery and modernization efforts. This series of diplomatic engagements highlights ongoing international efforts to support Ukraine's defense and post-war rebuilding.