Putin’s Warning to Trump Regarding Ukraine Arms

In a recent conversation, Russian leader Vladimir Putin cautioned President Trump against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, following a call initiated by White House envoy Steve Witkoff ahead of a pivotal meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Zelensky was set to visit the White House the following day, and Putin placed his call on October 16, coinciding with Trump’s considerations of providing Ukraine with these long-range missiles. This move would put additional pressure on Russia to conclude its long-standing conflict with Ukraine.

The noteworthy conversation between Putin and Trump happened about a week ago, after Witkoff had hinted to Yuri Ushakov, a senior advisor to Putin, that this could be a chance for Russia to gain favor with Trump by commending him for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza. Records show Witkoff’s thoughts on this were shared with the media.

Witkoff remarked, “I will call to congratulate the president, affirm my support for him—that he is a man of peace, a man of justice, and that I’m genuinely pleased to see progress.” He seemed to suggest this approach would be beneficial.

Ushakov responded positively, indicating that such praise would resonate well with Trump, noting, “Okay, my friend, I think our leaders could discuss that.” It appeared as if both sides were looking for a way to navigate the conversation diplomatically.

Records from the October 16 call reveal that Putin did congratulate Trump on his “successful efforts” in Gaza, suggesting that Trump’s “peace work is appreciated around the globe.” However, he also warned that equipping Ukraine with Tomahawks would severely impact U.S.-Russia relations and jeopardize prospects for peace.

While Witkoff didn’t explicitly direct Ushakov to threaten Trump nor mentioned Tomahawks during their discussion, he conveyed his belief that Russia was open to a peace agreement.

Putin effectively persuaded Trump to reconsider the arms shipment, despite Witkoff having advised Ushakov on how to approach the issue to make Russia appear willing to negotiate peace—though Russia had made no concrete concessions.

“Maybe he’ll suggest to President Trump that we discussed a similar 20-point plan for peace,” Witkoff said, indicating they were looking for common ground to facilitate an agreement. Yet, he asked Ushakov not to bring up Putin’s desire for land surrender in Donbas, acknowledging that it was a long-term goal others labeled as unrealistic.

“We know what needs to happen for a peace agreement—a land exchange in Donetsk or Donbas,” Witkoff explained, expressing a hopeful tone and a desire for flexible dialogue on peace.

Initially, Ushakov sought Witkoff’s thoughts on whether a direct conversation between Trump and Putin would be beneficial, but it was Witkoff who first suggested a call before the meeting with Zelensky.

As the meeting approached, Trump’s openness to providing Ukraine with Tomahawks was seen as a means of compelling Russia to the negotiation table, given its reluctance to conclude the conflict.

Zelensky’s team had identified potential Russian targets, which included military installations and oil refineries, to create leverage regarding Trump’s energy sanctions against Moscow.

However, in his conversation with Putin, Trump seemed to reverse his stance on the arms shipment, possibly preferring to bank on the chance that the Kremlin might wish to cease hostilities, even without a compelling reason from the U.S.

By the time Zelensky arrived in Washington to advocate for military aid, Trump had seemingly backed away from the proposal, according to insiders.

The White House characterized the interactions between Witkoff and Ushakov as typical political operations. “This shows how Special Envoy Witkoff has been engaging with both Russian and Ukrainian officials almost daily to push for peace—exactly what President Trump asked him to do,” remarked Stephen Chan, the White House communications director.

Trump expressed his support for Witkoff, framing these conversations as standard in the context of negotiations. “While I haven’t seen the specifics, this is normal. He has to balance things between Ukraine and Russia,” he stated, emphasizing the complexities of the situation.