In efforts to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, US President Donald Trump received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. During the talks in Washington, Zelenskyy hopes for Trump's approval for the sale of the US Tomahawk cruise missile to Kyiv. This long-range weapon would enable Ukraine to take more offensive action against Moscow. Whether Kyiv would receive the hoped-for commitment from the US remained initially unclear.

Zelenskyy had already arrived in the US capital, Washington, on Thursday. He stated that he wanted to meet with representatives of defense companies to strengthen his country's defenses. Discussions were also expected to include additional deliveries of air defense systems. Against the backdrop of the energy crisis in Ukraine caused by Russian attacks, meetings with representatives of US energy companies were also planned.

The day before the meeting with Zelensky, Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump then suggested a personal meeting with Putin, saying he wanted to meet with the Kremlin chief"probably in the next two weeks" in Budapest, Hungary. The two had already met in Alaska in August – without Zelensky and without any tangible results. Even now, it remains unclear whether the Ukrainian president could play a role in the potential meeting.

Whether Putin and Trump actually meet again this year could also depend on the outcome of the talks with Zelenskyy in the White House—and on whether the US will provide Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. In that case, NATO partner states are likely to buy the weapons from the US and make them available to Ukraine.