On the social network Truth, Trump stated that the meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky “was very interesting and cordial”, but that he told the Ukrainian President “that it is time to stop the killing and reach an AGREEMENT”, as he had also “vehemently” suggested to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
After the meeting with Trump, Zelensky told the press that they both discussed the issue of long-range Tomahawk missiles, but that it was agreed “not to talk about it because (…) the The United States does not want any escalation.”
Trump’s meeting with Zelensky took place one day after a long telephone conversation between the US and Russian presidents, in which Putin warned that if the United States supplies Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, it would constitute a “new escalation” in the conflict and affect relations between Washington and Moscow.
Despite Moscow’s protests, Zelensky hopes that Washington will supply Kiev with Tomahawk missiles, which would allow Ukraine to attack deep into Russian territory.
BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles could reach cities, military and energy infrastructure even deeper into Russia than the Ukrainian drones, which have successfully attacked refineries, compromising the activity that finances the Russian war effort.
In Washington after the meeting, Zelensky said Russia was “afraid” of the possible delivery of Tomahawk missiles to his country.
“I think Russia is afraid of the Tomahawk, it is really afraid, because it is a powerful weapon,” said Zelensky at a press conference.
Asked if he expected to receive this weapon, Zelensky replied: “I’m a realist.”
A source from the Ukrainian delegation told AFP that Zelensky presented Trump with “maps” of potential targets in Russia to hitwith “pressure points in Russia’s defense and military economy that could be targets to force Putin to end the war.”
Trump has not exerted significant pressure on Russia since, in January, he returned to the White House for a second presidential term (2025-2029), although he stated, during the election campaign, that he would achieve an end to the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours” as soon as he returned to power.
Before Zelensky, who considered that Putin is “not ready” for peace, Trump stated the opposite, that Putin “wants to end the war” and that, therefore, Tomahawk missiles may not be necessary.
In your message after the meeting, Trump makes no mention of military supplies and Kiev, arguing in favor of an immediate deal with “a lot of bloodshed,” “property boundaries” having been “defined by War and Courage” of the belligerents.
Russians and Ukrainians “must stop where they are. Let them both claim Victory, let History decide!”, he stated.
Ukraine has relied on financial and weapons aid from Western allies since Russia invaded the country on February 24, 2022.
Kiev’s allies have also enacted sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy to try to diminish Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort in Ukraine.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory has plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since the Second World War (1939-1945).