On 17 October, President Trump met Ukrainian President Zelensky in Washington, while a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin signalled a cooling of Kyiv’s expectations for U.S. long‑range Tomahawk missiles.
U.S. Meets Ukrainian President to Discuss Tomahawk Missiles
On Friday, 17 October, President Trump met President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Zelensky’s priority was gaining U.S. approval for deliveries of long‑range Tomahawk cruise missiles. The Ukrainian delegation was also set to meet U.S. defense contractors, including Raytheon, which builds Tomahawk missiles.
Trump Contacts Putin Ahead of Zelensky Visit
Trump’s recent phone call with Vladimir Putin preceded Zelensky’s Washington visit. The U.S. president announced that he wants to meet with the Russian leader in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, saying the meeting would probably take place within the next two weeks. He revealed the plan on Truth Social shortly after the call.
Trump Tempers Kyiv’s Hopes for Tomahawks
After noting the upcoming meeting, Trump admitted that the United States cannot empty its own stocks of Tomahawk missiles. He said the possibility of delivering them to Ukraine was also brought up in a call with Putin, who responded negatively. Trump’s remarks cooled Kyiv’s expectations for U.S. support.
Moscow Warns Delivery Undermines Peace
The Kremlin warned that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would not change the balance of forces on the front and would damage U.S.–Russia relations, thereby reducing chances for a peaceful resolution. According to Putin’s adviser, the move could provoke a nuclear response and allow Ukraine to strike deeply into Russian territory, with missiles having a range of up to 2,500 km. Ukraine’s president will not attend the planned talks with Russia.
