U.S. President Donald Trump indicated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday that he is leaning against selling long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. However, Trump expressed optimism that the ongoing conflict is moving towards a resolution that may lessen the need for such potent weapons.
During the White House discussions, Zelenskyy proposed a scenario where Ukraine would offer the United States advanced drones in exchange for the sale of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. This trade was seen as crucial by Ukrainian officials to push Russian President Vladimir Putin towards serious peace negotiations.
Despite previous indications of considering sending the missiles to aid Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, Trump stated his reluctance to deplete the U.S. Tomahawk inventory. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the country is adequately equipped for any war or peace scenarios, stating a preference for the war to end without the necessity of Tomahawks.
Zelenskyy and his team met with Trump and his officials for discussions following a lengthy phone call between Trump and Putin to address the conflict. The Ukrainian leader praised Trump for his recent achievements in Gaza and expressed confidence in Trump’s commitment to ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Later on, Trump urged Kyiv and Moscow to halt hostilities and the war through a post on his Truth Social platform. Zelenskyy voiced his trust in Trump’s intentions to halt the conflict during a press briefing outside the White House.
The fluctuating stance of Trump regarding the Tomahawks has disappointed Ukrainian officials. Despite initial openness to selling the missiles, Trump’s rhetoric shifted after the call with Putin, raising doubts about Ukraine’s acquisition of the missiles with a range of approximately 1,600 kilometers.
Zelenskyy had been pursuing the Tomahawks to enhance Ukraine’s military capabilities, enabling strikes deep into Russian territory. The potential for such strikes was believed to pressure Putin into engaging in direct negotiations to end the conflict.
Additionally, Ukrainian officials hinted at Zelenskyy’s plans to discuss energy deals with the U.S. as a way to appeal to Trump’s economic interests. Zelenskyy aimed to propose storing American liquefied natural gas in Ukraine’s facilities to establish a U.S. presence in the European energy market.
The meeting marked the fourth face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since the former’s return to office. Following the call with Putin, Trump announced plans to meet with the Russian leader in Budapest, Hungary, to explore avenues for war resolution. Discussions between their senior aides were scheduled for the following week at an undisclosed location, with Trump hinting at a potential joint meeting with Zelenskyy to facilitate productive talks between the warring nations.
Trump’s efforts to broker peace between Zelenskyy and Putin have faced challenges, with Putin showing little interest in engaging with Zelenskyy and intensifying attacks on Ukraine. Despite concerns of being misled by Putin, Trump remained optimistic about handling the Russian leader, emphasizing his confidence in negotiating effectively.
Overall, the interactions between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin reflect the complex dynamics driving efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict through diplomatic channels.