Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, pressing for access to American-made Tomahawk missiles even as Trump gears up for a new round of peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The visit marks Zelensky’s third trip to Washington since Trump returned to office, following a tense and highly publicized confrontation in February and a more conciliatory meeting in August. Trump’s approach to the Ukraine war has continued to fluctuate between strong rhetoric and diplomatic overtures.
Just before Zelensky’s arrival, Trump announced plans to meet Putin in Budapest in an effort to broker a peace deal that could end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022. While Kyiv had hoped this visit would help increase pressure on Moscow, Trump’s focus on diplomacy has shifted expectations.
Ukraine’s key request remains the acquisition of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, capable of striking deep within Russian territory. Trump, however, has indicated hesitation, citing concerns about depleting US military reserves. “We need them too, so I don’t know what we can do about that,” the president told reporters on Thursday.
The US leader also admitted that Putin “didn’t like it” when the possibility of arming Ukraine with Tomahawks was mentioned during their recent call. The Kremlin confirmed preparations for the Budapest summit, describing the Trump-Putin discussion as “extremely frank and trustful.” Putin reportedly warned that providing Ukraine with such weapons would “not change the situation on the battlefield” and could jeopardize peace prospects, according to his top aide Yuri Ushakov.
Zelensky, nonetheless, remains optimistic that Trump’s diplomatic momentum—following his success in brokering a Gaza ceasefire last week—could help secure peace in Eastern Europe. “We expect that the momentum of curbing terror and war that succeeded in the Middle East will help to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he said on X (formerly Twitter).
The Ukrainian president argued that the mere threat of Tomahawks had already compelled Moscow to reconsider negotiations. “We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” he stated.
During his visit, Zelensky also held discussions with executives from Raytheon, the manufacturer of Tomahawk missiles and Patriot defense systems, to explore joint production opportunities. He later met with representatives from Lockheed Martin, producers of F-16 fighter jets, to discuss deepening military cooperation.
Trump’s relationships with both Putin and Zelensky have fluctuated dramatically since his return to the White House in January. His early efforts to mend ties with Moscow have since given way to frustration, particularly after his Alaska meeting with Putin yielded no tangible progress toward ending the war.
Zelensky, by contrast, has gradually regained favor with Trump following a disastrous first meeting where the US president and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated him. In his August visit, the Ukrainian leader appeared more composed and formally dressed—a noticeable shift that helped restore a measure of goodwill between the two administrations.
As Trump pursues another high-profile diplomatic breakthrough, Ukraine’s hopes now hinge on whether Washington will balance its quest for peace with tangible support for Kyiv’s defense.
What You Should Know
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s third visit to Washington comes at a critical juncture, with US President Donald Trump preparing for a peace summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
While Kyiv seeks advanced US weapons to strengthen its defenses, Trump appears more focused on diplomatic resolution. The outcome of these parallel efforts could shape not only Ukraine’s war strategy but also the broader balance of power between Washington and Moscow.
