A blow for Zelensky. Trump extinguishes the hopes of Ukrainians. “Let history decide”
Although the president did not rule out the transfer of long-range missiles to Ukraine, he expressed optimism that this would not be necessary, suggesting that the Russian leader was serious about peace.
Donald Trump is not ready to provide the Ukrainian army with Tomahawk missiles, which Volodymyr Zelensky requested on Friday during his visit to the White House. The US president did not rule out this possibility – he wondered whether it would force Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter into negotiations. However, he also said he was concerned about the escalation of the conflict and its potential effects on the US military.
“Tomahawks are a serious matter,” Trump said, noting that the United States needs them for its own use. — This is a very powerful weapon, but also very dangerous, and its use could mean a serious escalation of the conflict. “It could cause a lot of bad things,” he added.
These words are a blow to Zelensky.
During his third visit to the White House this year, he hoped to convince Trump to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles that would allow it to strengthen its offensive and launch more effective attacks on targets located in Russia. However, it turned out that Trump, like his predecessor Joe Biden, fears that this move may worsen the situation on the front, even though a few days ago he suggested that transferring Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine was a real possibility.
Speaking to reporters shortly after leaving the White House, Zelensky said that Trump had made it clear that his reluctance to deliver the weapons was due to concerns about the escalation of the conflict and the depletion of U.S. stockpiles of these missiles.
When asked if he was more or less confident that he would receive Tomahawks from the US, he replied with an ironic smile. – I am a realist – he said, adding that Trump's reluctance is the US position at the moment. He also stated that he still hopes that the United States will provide Ukraine with a package of weapons thanks to which it will be able to “put pressure” on Putin.
— Over the years, Ukraine has become strong enough. Currently, however, we are unable to fight with our own [systemów obrony powietrznej] for example with ballistic missiles. We are also unable to repel attacks that our energy infrastructure simply cannot cope with, Zelensky told journalists in Ukrainian. He added that he had asked for weapons that would help Kiev put more pressure on Russia even before Trump took office.
First, a ceasefire
He, in turn, is considering new ways to put pressure on Russia. In addition to talks on Tomahawk missiles, it announced earlier this week that it had received a commitment from India to halt purchases of Russian oil, although it did not confirm the statement. On Thursday, Republican senators indicated that they intend to submit a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia to a vote within the next 30 days. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered his harshest words yet on the war during a meeting with NATO partners in Europe this week, announcing Russia must bear the severe consequences of its aggression.
After the success of the Middle East peace agreement, Trump is eager to use his diplomatic streak. Recounting his two-hour phone call Thursday with Putin, whom he plans to meet in Budapest in a few weeks, he again suggested that the Russian leader is ready to end the war.
— I think things are going quite well. “I think President Putin wants to end the war,” he said.
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He expressed similar suspicions earlier, but Putin only intensified the airstrikes on Ukrainian cities. Zelensky is not convinced that this time the Russian leader is serious.
In a social media post after the meeting, Trump called for a peace agreement that would freeze the conflict along the current front lines. “It's time to stop the killing and make an AGREEMENT! Enough blood has been shed and property lines have been defined by war and courage. They should stop where they are. Let both sides declare victory, let history decide!” – he wrote.
When asked by journalists about territorial concessions under the peace agreement, Zelensky called this issue “very delicate and the most difficult.” He noted a significant difference of opinion with Russia, which was pressing for new borders to be agreed before a ceasefire.
“Our position is that we need a ceasefire first,” he said.
Peace through strength
Zelensky, who previously praised Trump for bringing about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, said he would be happy to meet with the Russian leader. He reiterated his readiness to give up territory in exchange for significant long-term security guarantees.
“I agree with the president,” Zelensky said. “Both sides need to stop. But this is about Putin. Because we didn't start this war.
Sitting across from Trump during the public portion of the meeting, he also suggested that strengthening Ukraine's offensive on the battlefield could change the Russian president's calculations. “We understand what we need to do to persuade Putin to enter into negotiations,” Zelensky said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Zelensky suggested that during a conversation with Trump a day earlier, Putin had tried to persuade him not to provide Ukraine with any weapons package that would include long-range missiles.
— I think Russia is afraid. “He understands what we can do,” he said
Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference in Washington, October 17, 2025.ANDREW HARNIK/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
Trump, repeatedly emphasizing that “bad blood” between Zelensky and Putin is a major obstacle to ending the war, said the Ukrainian leader would not attend his upcoming meeting with Putin.
— We hope that this conversation, if it takes place, will be used to increase pressure on Putin. Peace through strength, said an anonymous European diplomat.
Asked if he believed Putin was misleading him by trying to prolong the war, Trump acknowledged it was possible but said he didn't think that was the case.
“I've had the best of them play games with me all my life, and I've gotten really good at it,” he said. “It's possible… but I think I'm pretty good at it.” “I think he wants to make an agreement,” he added.
Nothing for free
Trump's somewhat superficial suggestions this week that he might donate “thousands” of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine seem mostly hypothetical at this point. The US president presents this possibility as one of the options, but at the same time emphasizes that he wants to resolve the next conflict diplomatically.
Asked initially whether he could comply with Zelensky's request, Trump replied that it would mean “escalation” but did not express his position directly. “We'll talk about it,” he said.
A Ukrainian official told POLITICO anonymously that Zelensky had no intention of changing his approach after Trump's announcement Thursday that he would meet with Putin.
— We will show how Tomahawk missiles can change the situation in war. We will also show how air defense systems can change the situation if we actually get what we were promised. These missiles have been the basis of the Navy's long-range strikes over the past few decades, striking targets deep in Iran, Yemen, Iraq and Syria. American warships equipped with these missiles are currently stationed off the coast of Venezuela, he added.
Volodymyr Zelensky with Donald Trump and their delegations in Washington, October 17, 2025.ANDREW HARNIK/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
Tomahawks are long-range, precision cruise missiles with a range of approximately 1,000–1,500 miles (1,609–2,414 km) and a warhead weighing approximately 1,000 pounds (453 kg). They fly low, following the natural terrain, making them difficult to target by missile defense systems. The big advantage for Ukraine is that the missiles were originally designed and built in the 1980s in such a way that they were able to escape the attention of Soviet air defense systems, which Russia, in some variations, still uses.
According to Tom Karako, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Missile Defense Project, US consumption of Tomahawk missiles has outstripped production in recent years, which means that the most realistic option for Trump is to send Ukraine “several hundred” rather than thousands of missiles as he suggested. “We're using up Tomahawk missiles like candy,” he added, citing recent attacks on Iran that used more than two dozen missiles.
Trump acknowledged that the Tomahawk missile shortage is a “problem,” but said it would be an important topic of private discussion between leaders.
“Let's hope they don't need them.” Let's hope we can end the war without having to think about Tomahawk missiles, the US president said.
Zelensky interjected that Ukraine could compensate for these suppliessharing cutting-edge drone technology with the US. Trump expressed interest.
“They make very good drones,” he said.
