Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, where discussions included the topic of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. However, Trump indicated he was not prepared to provide these missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns over potential escalation in the conflict. Zelensky refrained from making specific statements on military support following the meeting, acknowledging the U.S. position.
After the bilateral meeting, Trump called for both Ukraine and Russia to “stop where they are” and to seek an end to the ongoing war. This dialogue came soon after Trump’s phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed a future meeting in Hungary.
Zelensky has argued that the use of Tomahawks to target Russian energy facilities could significantly impact Putin’s war economy. While Trump did not outright dismiss the possibility of supplying the missiles, he described them as critical for U.S. defense and expressed hope that the conflict could be resolved without them. He acknowledged that discussions regarding the missiles would continue.
During the meeting, Zelensky proposed that Ukraine could offer drones in exchange for Tomahawks, which Trump appeared to receive positively. The Ukrainian leader also noted Trump’s role in facilitating peace talks in the Middle East and suggested it could be a foundation for addressing the conflict in Ukraine.
When asked about the possibility of Ukraine receiving the missiles, Zelensky expressed a realistic outlook. He also concurred with Trump’s idea of halting the conflict along the current front lines, suggesting that any further steps would require dialogue. Following the meeting, Zelensky communicated with European leaders about the outcomes, emphasizing the need for security and humanitarian efforts.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK characterized subsequent discussions with European leaders as “productive” and affirmed ongoing support for Ukraine. Despite Trump’s openness to the Tomahawk deal, Putin has cautioned that such moves could further strain relations with the U.S. Meanwhile, Trump expressed concerns about whether the forthcoming summit with Putin might be merely a stalling tactic. He indicated that discussions between teams from both countries would take place shortly.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93dqew8l3xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss