Zelensky's Cautious Diplomacy: No Commitment on Tomahawk Missiles from Trump

Sat Oct 18 2025 12:31:50 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leaves the White House without a firm commitment from President Trump regarding the supply of Tomahawk missiles amidst escalating tensions with Russia.

In a recent meeting at the White House, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed long-range missile support with President Trump, who remains non-committal about providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump emphasized the necessity of avoiding escalation and hinted at ongoing discussions while calling for peace between Ukraine and Russia. The talks come on the heels of Trump's pledge to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising questions about the dynamics of U.S.-Ukraine relations and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky appears to have come away empty-handed from a White House meeting after US President Donald Trump indicated he was not ready to supply sought-after Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Zelensky said after the cordial bilateral that he and Trump had talked about long-range missiles, but decided not to make statements on that issue because the United States does not want an escalation.

Following the meeting, Trump took to social media to call for Kyiv and Moscow to stop where they are and end the war.

The Trump-Zelensky meeting came a day after Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and agreed to meet him in Hungary soon.

While Trump did not rule out supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine, his tone at the White House on Friday was non-committal.

Hopefully they won't need it, hopefully we'll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks, the US president said, adding that America needed the weapons.

Trump said sending the missiles would be an escalation, but we'll be talking about it.

Asked by the BBC if the Tomahawks had prompted Putin to meet Trump, the US president said: The threat of that [the missiles] is good, but the threat of that is always there.

The Ukrainian leader suggested Ukraine could offer drones in exchange for the Tomahawks, prompting smiles and nodding from Trump.

Zelensky also complimented Trump on his role in securing a peace deal in the Middle East, suggesting the US leader could build on that momentum to help end Russia's war in Ukraine.

Outside afterwards, Zelensky was asked by a reporter if he thought Putin wanted a deal or was just buying time with the planned meeting with Trump in Budapest.

I don't know, he said, adding that the prospect of Ukraine having Tomahawks had caused Russia to be afraid because it is a strong weapon.

Asked if he was leaving Washington more optimistic that Ukraine would get the Tomahawks, he said: I am realistic.

Zelensky believes using Tomahawks to strike at Russian oil and energy facilities would severely weaken Putin's war economy.

In recent days, Trump had shown an openness to the idea of selling the Tomahawks, although Putin warned that such a move would further strain the US-Russian relationship. Trump had previously communicated positive sentiments following a productive phone call with Putin, highlighting the need for further discussions, including the potential involvement of Zelensky.