Trump Meets Zelensky Amid Missile Discussions
On Friday, President Donald Trump held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. This encounter comes as Ukraine aims to acquire long-range Tomahawk missiles from the U.S. to enhance its defense against Russia.
This marks Zelensky’s third visit to the White House since Trump began his second term. Notably, it follows a “very productive” conversation Trump had with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he continues to explore options for peace in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“Tomahawks are a big deal,” Trump told reporters during their meeting. “But one thing I have to say, we want Tomahawks, also. We don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country.” He added, “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks. I think we’re fairly close to that.”
While Trump has indicated that the U.S. would only sell Tomahawk missiles to NATO allies for distribution to Ukraine, he hinted at a possible exchange of missiles for Ukrainian drones. Observers suggest that this assertive stance might be an effort to pressure Putin into considering a peace deal.
“They make a very good drone,” Trump mentioned, referring to Ukrainian capabilities. “I might say, ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send the Tomahawks.’”
Zelensky has expressed a strong interest in these missiles, which have a range of 2,500 kilometers (about 1,500 miles) — enabling Ukraine to target deep within Russia and potentially altering the war’s dynamics.
He also noted that “Moscow is now rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks.”
“First of all, I think we need to sit and speak. The second point, we need a ceasefire. Even now you see in the Middle East, it’s very difficult to hold a ceasefire. Everywhere, in every war, it’s very difficult. We want peace; Putin doesn’t want. That’s why we need pressure on him.” Zelensky stated. “We will speak with president today, what we need.”
Zelensky emphasized that it’s crucial to determine what is necessary to bring Putin to the negotiation table. He expressed readiness for discussions in different formats, whether bilateral or trilateral.
“For Ukrainians, it’s very important. Of course, it’s our decision, [the] decisions of allies to decide where we are,” he explained. “But the most important thing for the people of Ukraine, who are under daily attacks, is to have real strong security guarantees. NATO is the best, but weapon support is very important.”
Trump also suggested that he might invite Zelensky to an upcoming meeting in Budapest with Putin, highlighting a more personal approach by arranging separate discussions to avoid discomfort.
“These two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody,” Trump said.
The Budapest meeting is still in the planning stages. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has welcomed the news, indicating that Budapest is one of the few places in Europe suitable for such discussions due to Hungary’s pro-peace stance.
