Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in Washington that he will not make any public announcements about Ukraine's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles, stressing that the United States does not want an escalation with Russia.
Following his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, Zelensky told reporters that the two leaders discussed the issue of long-range weapons but agreed not to release details"because the United States does not want an escalation."
In a clear message to Moscow, Zelensky said that “Russia is afraid of the Tomahawk, really afraid of it, because it is a very powerful weapon.” The Ukrainian leader maintained his position of requesting these missiles, arguing that their ability to hit targets on Russian territory could force President Vladimir Putin to more seriously consider peace proposals and direct negotiations.
For his part, Trump also adopted a cautious stance regarding the possible supply of missiles to Ukraine. During the meeting with Zelensky, he expressed doubts about the advisability of authorizing the shipment of these systems, stating:"I also have an obligation to make sure that we are fully supplied as a country, because you never know what can happen in times of war and peace." Trump said that he would prefer that the Ukrainians not need the Tomahawks and that the conflict end.
After the meeting, the US president reaffirmed his call for kyiv and Moscow to cease hostilities in the current situation on the front lines. Through his Truth Social network, Trump wrote:"Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by war and courage. They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory and let history decide."
At a press conference outside the White House, Zelensky echoed Trump's message regarding the urgency of a ceasefire, stating:"The president is right... and we need to stop where we are." While he expressed support for a pause in the conflict, Zelensky stressed that agreements must be the result of multilateral negotiations, in which Ukraine can ensure its sovereignty and security.
The Ukrainian offer, made at the start of the talks, included the possibility of supplying “thousands” of advanced drones to the United States in exchange for access to Tomahawk missiles, which would allow kyiv to bolster its defensive capabilities. However, Trump was reluctant to reduce the US stockpile after a telephone conversation with Putin in which the Russian leader warned that delivering these missiles to Ukraine “will not change the situation on the battlefield, but would cause considerable damage to the US-Russia relationship,” according to statements by foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov reported in Russian media.
On Thursday, following his talks with Putin, Trump announced the holding of a new summit in Budapest, Hungary, where he plans to hold further talks with the Russian leader to explore avenues for a solution to the conflict. He also announced that senior officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will meet next week to prepare the ground for formal negotiations.
Trump stressed that he considers a dual meeting between the leaders of the warring countries to be the most efficient option for moving toward an agreement, although he declined to confirm whether Zelensky would be present at the main table in Budapest. He argued that the lack of affinity between Putin and Zelensky requires a format that facilitates comfort for all parties.
Over the past few weeks, the US president had shown an inclination to authorize the delivery of Tomahawks to Ukraine, which raised expectations among Ukrainian officials, but the climate following his conversation with Putin was decisive in moderating his position. Zelensky stressed that the mere discussion about the Tomahawks had already served to push Russia to the negotiating table, according to a statement by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on the social network X.
This Friday's meeting was the fourth face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Trump since the Republican returned to the presidency in January, and the second in less than a month. The meeting, which lasted more than two hours, exceeded expectations in terms of the depth of the exchange, with an agenda focused on security, peace initiatives, and the future of the military relationship between the United States and Ukraine.
