During a critical meeting in Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky aimed to persuade President Donald Trump to provide his country with Tomahawk missiles. However, Trump expressed at the outset of their discussion that he hopes such measures will not be necessary. This meeting is significant as Ukraine seeks clear commitments from the U.S. regarding military support, with Tomahawk missiles being a top priority, as highlighted by Zelensky's chief of staff in a statement to Axios prior to the meeting.
Following a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump indicated that his primary focus is on ending the ongoing war swiftly. "I think President Zelensky wants it done and I think President Putin wants it done," Trump remarked, suggesting that both leaders need to find common ground. Trump's announcement of an impending summit with Putin in Budapest caught the Ukrainian delegation off guard, raising questions about the implications for their military requests.
At the beginning of the meeting, Zelensky reiterated his readiness to meet with Putin at any time, although the Russian leader has yet to agree to such a meeting. Trump acknowledged the existing tension between Zelensky and Putin, proposing that separate meetings with both leaders might be a more effective way to facilitate negotiations and reach a potential peace deal.
Despite previous disappointments in achieving peace after discussions with Putin, Trump remains optimistic. He conceded that Putin might be stalling for time but believes he is serious about reaching an agreement. "I've been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well," Trump stated, referring to his experiences with negotiations.
In a previous statement to Axios, Zelensky emphasized that if the U.S. were to supply missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory, it could compel Putin to come to the negotiating table. During the meeting, Zelensky proposed a potential trade, offering Ukraine's drones in exchange for U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles. While Trump acknowledged U.S. interest in Ukraine's drones, he expressed reservations, stating the U.S. requires Tomahawks for its own security needs and seemed to downplay the prospect of supplying them in the near future.
Trump noted that the inclusion of Tomahawks in the discussion could incentivize Putin to engage in dialogue. "They are very dangerous weapons. It could mean an escalation. Tomahawks are a big deal," he remarked, highlighting the complexity surrounding the military support issue.
Trump expressed confidence that a resolution in Ukraine could be achieved soon, potentially before his scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the month. "If flexibility is shown, I think we have a very good chance of bringing this war to a conclusion," Trump stated. However, the Ukrainian side remains skeptical about Putin's true intentions regarding peace negotiations.
