STORY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met U.S. President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg in Rome on Wednesday (July 9) after Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv.

The two were in Italy before a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion.

Attempts by the U.S. to end the war in Ukraine through diplomacy have largely stalled and, on Tuesday, Trump aimed unusually direct criticism at the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.

The Rome conference - the fourth such event since Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbour - is mainly aimed at mobilising international support for Ukraine.

An Italian government source said about 500 billion euros ($585.35 billion) would be needed for the reconstruction, recovery and modernisation of Ukraine, citing World Bank estimates.

Kyiv has been asking Washington to sell it more Patriot missiles and systems that it sees as key to defending its cities.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will open the Rome conference with Zelenskiy and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY MEETING U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S UKRAINE ENVOY KEITH KELLOGG

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: ROME, ITALY (JULY 9, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKIY WAITING FOR U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR UKRAINE, KEITH KELLOGG, TO ARRIVE

2. JOURNALISTS / ZELENSKIY

3. KELLOGG ARRIVING FOR THE MEETING / ZELENSKIY AND KELLOGG SHAKING HANDS AND HUGGING / KELLOGG SPEAKING TO UKRAINIAN DELEGATION AS ZELENSKIY GREETS OTHER U.S. OFFICIALS

4. ZELENSKIY

5. KELLOGG

6. ZELENSKIY AND KELLOGG TAKING THEIR SEATS

7. HANDS OF ZELENSKIY / ZELENSKIY SITTING

8. ZELENSKIY AND KELLOGG SHAKING HANDS OVER TABLE / MEETING UNDERWAY