President Volodymyr Zelensky concluded a White House meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump without securing a definite promise for the crucial Tomahawk cruise missiles Ukraine has been seeking. While the discussions covered long-range missile capabilities, Zelensky noted that they decided against making public statements on the matter, citing the United States’ aim to prevent further escalation.
In the aftermath of their meeting, President Trump took to social media to advocate for both Kyiv and Moscow to reach a standstill and bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
This bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelensky occurred shortly after Trump’s phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they agreed to a future meeting in Hungary.
Trump’s stance on supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine was non-committal during the White House press conference. He expressed hope that the war would conclude before such weapons become necessary, stating that while America needs these missiles itself, the possibility of their supply would remain under discussion.
When questioned about the potential impact of the Tomahawk missile threat on Putin’s willingness to meet, Trump remarked that the threat itself is beneficial and consistently present.
Zelensky hinted at a possible exchange, suggesting Ukraine could offer drones in return for the Tomahawk missiles, a proposal that elicited smiles from Trump.
The Ukrainian President also commended Trump’s role in brokering a Middle East peace deal, expressing hope that this success could be leveraged to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Zelensky was hesitant when asked if Putin genuinely sought a resolution or was merely delaying tactics with the upcoming meeting with Trump. He stated, “I don’t know,” but acknowledged that the prospect of Ukraine possessing Tomahawk missiles made Russia “afraid because it is a strong weapon.”
When pressed about his optimism regarding Ukraine receiving the Tomahawks, Zelensky responded pragmatically, “I am realistic.” He believes that utilizing Tomahawks to strike Russian oil and energy infrastructure could significantly weaken Putin’s war economy.
In recent days, Trump had indicated a willingness to consider selling the Tomahawks, a stance that drew a warning from Putin about potential strain on U.S.-Russia relations.
Trump described his phone call with Putin, the first since mid-August, as “very productive,” announcing that teams from both Washington and Moscow would convene the following week.
Regarding Zelensky’s potential involvement in future talks, Trump commented that there was “bad blood” between Putin and Zelensky, but suggested that the three leaders “have to get together,” potentially in separate capacities initially.
Trump also shared that his call with Putin was highly productive, with teams set to meet soon.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, the BBC spoke with a couple in Kyiv whose store was destroyed by Russian missiles. The store owner, Volodymyr, became emotional when asked about Trump’s upcoming meeting with Putin, eventually stating, “Truth and democracy will win, and all the terrorism and evil will disappear. We just want to live, we don’t want to give up, we just want them to leave us alone.”