Laura Loomer’s unexpected meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
Laura Loomer, an ardent ally of President Donald Trump with a reputation for incendiary far-right social media commentary, sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday after a dramatic turnaround on the war that could have political reverberations back in Washington, reports BritPanorama.
Loomer had spent years minimizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and amplifying Russian propaganda to her nearly 2 million followers. This week, however, she experienced a change of heart.
“Just experienced my first air raid in Ukraine. Sirens blaring. This is everyday for every Ukrainian,” Loomer wrote on X during her visit to the country. “I often said I don’t care. Looking back, that wasn’t very nice of me to say.”
“We need to have moral clarity,” she added Thursday. This position marks a stark reversal for Loomer, who had previously criticized U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense, calling it “a country full of Nazi apologists” — a claim often cited by Russia to justify its yearslong invasion — and deriding its leadership as “led by a Jihadi apologist.”
The skepticism of Ukraine has resonated among other major conservative influencers, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The issue has escalated tensions between traditional Republicans, such as former Vice President Mike Pence, and Trump’s MAGA base. Vice President JD Vance was among the earliest vocal critics of continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine, clashing with Zelenskyy during a heated Oval Office meeting.
It remains unclear what prompted Loomer’s visit or how she arranged the meeting with Zelenskyy, which she advertised as part of her Rumble show, “Loomer Unleashed.” On Friday, Loomer posted that Zelenskyy would likely visit the United States next week for a meeting with Trump.
Following their meeting, Loomer shared a photo with Zelenskyy along with a clip in which she questioned him about the Oval Office confrontation and discussed their improving relationship. Zelenskyy attributed this thaw to a brief conversation at the Vatican, describing it as a “historic moment” that changed the relations between them during 15 to 20 minutes.
Neither Loomer nor the White House responded to requests for comment regarding the trip, but Trump voiced his support on social media, stating, “Very good!!!” on Thursday evening. Dmytro Lytvyn, a spokesperson for Zelenskyy, confirmed the meeting, clarifying that no Ukrainian government institution had organized the visit and that they became aware of Loomer’s presence in Ukraine through social media.
“It is really important that @LauraLoomer is in Ukraine and sees things with her own eyes as they are,” wrote Zelenskyy’s office earlier this week. They added, “It takes courage to come to Ukraine and not be deterred by Russian propaganda or air raid sirens. Thank you, Laura,” after her visit on Thursday.
In addition to meeting Zelenskyy, Loomer visited the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, an important religious site that was recently subject to a Russian attack. This assault on the monastic complex, known for its golden domes in central Kyiv, caused significant damage, according to UNESCO. Zelenskyy condemned the attack as Moscow’s “biggest crime yet against Christian culture.”
Russia, however, denied responsibility for the attack, claiming without evidence that the damage was due to one of Ukraine’s U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles, alleging it may have malfunctioned due to age.
In a video recorded inside the church, Loomer accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy by claiming to protect Christianity while engaging in attacks. “I just don’t think that you should be allowed to say that you’re protecting Christianity if you’re trying to drone strike Jesus Christ,” she stated.
Sergiy Kyslytsya and Tetyana Berezhna, two senior Ukrainian officials, accompanied Loomer during her visit.
The meeting occurs amidst ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, which have recently been overshadowed by escalating tensions with Iran.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at an annual gathering of foreign ministers in Manila, remarked that the administration is poised to help end the “senseless war” in Ukraine but acknowledged there is no quick path to a resolution.
