U.S. President Donald Trump indicated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday that he is leaning towards not selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. Trump expressed optimism that the conflict is progressing towards a resolution that would lessen the necessity for the potent weaponry.
At the onset of the White House discussions, Zelenskyy proposed a deal where Ukraine would offer the United States its advanced drones in exchange for the long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles that Ukrainian officials believe are essential to push Russian President Vladmir Putin towards serious peace negotiations.
However, Trump expressed reluctance to deplete the U.S. Tomahawk inventory, a shift from his prior stance of considering sending the missiles to assist Ukraine in repelling Russia’s invasion. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the country is adequately stocked for any eventuality in wartime or peacetime.
Trump emphasized a preference for not requiring Tomahawks and for the conflict to come to an end. Zelenskyy and his aides engaged in discussions with Trump and his team during a lunch meeting, following a phone call between Trump and Putin to address the conflict.
The Ukrainian leader praised Trump for brokering a recent ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza, stating that Trump now has momentum to help resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Trump urged Kyiv and Moscow to halt hostilities and end the war, asserting his desire for peace.
Trump’s shifting stance on providing Tomahawks disappointed Ukrainian officials. Despite prior indications of willingness to sell the missiles to Ukraine, Trump’s position seemed to change after his call with Putin.
Zelenskyy had sought the Tomahawks to enable Ukrainian forces to target key military installations and critical infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. Putin cautioned Trump that supplying Kyiv with the missiles would not alter the battlefield situation but could harm U.S.-Russian relations.
Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha noted that discussions about providing Tomahawks had already pushed Putin towards negotiations. He emphasized the importance of strength in fostering progress towards peace.
Zelenskyy also planned to discuss potential energy deals with the U.S., proposing storing American liquefied natural gas in Ukraine’s storage facilities to enhance American presence in the European energy market.
The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy marked their fourth face-to-face encounter since Trump resumed office. Following the call with Putin, Trump announced plans to meet the Russian leader in Budapest to discuss ending the war.
Despite previous optimism about arranging direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin, progress has been slow. Trump acknowledged the possibility of being misled by Putin but expressed confidence in his ability to handle the situation.
Zelenskyy praised Trump for his efforts in brokering peace agreements and expressed hope for Trump to play a significant role in ending the conflict with Russia.