On Tuesday at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spent over two hours in a tense exchange that ended abruptly, leaving the Tomahawk missile deal unresolved.
Meeting Ends Before Tomahawk Deal
The discussion, lasting more than two hours, took place at the White House between President Trump and President Zelensky. Trump described the talks as “very interesting” and cordial, yet refused to transfer the much‑desired Tomahawk missiles, citing potential escalation and the weapons’ destructive power.
Trump stressed that the U.S. would not provide items that could endanger national defense. He also expressed confidence that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is willing to pursue peace and questioned the necessity of the Tomahawks.
Trump Declares “We’re Done” as Talks Abort
The meeting shut down suddenly after 2½ hours. Trump reportedly told reporters, “I think we are finished. We’ll see what happens next week,” referring to planned U.S.–Russia talks. He intends to meet Putin in Budapest within the next fortnight.
Zelensky Highlights Territorial Stakes in Negotiations
After the encounter, Zelensky briefed officials, emphasizing that the first step must be a weapons‑halt to enable table talks. He warned that territorial issues would pose the greatest challenge with Russia, which seeks to occupy and divide Ukrainian land before any cease‑fire.
Other bargaining points identified include security guarantees for Ukraine, air‑defence systems, and the deployment of long‑range weapons.
Post‑Meeting Briefing: Unresolved Problems
The briefing concluded that while weapons suspension remains feasible, the deeper questions of territory and future governance remain open, keeping the path to a full resolution uncertain.
