Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he remains “realistic” about the possibility of receiving US Tomahawk missiles, following discussions with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Trump had reportedly made it clear that he wanted to avoid any move that could heighten tensions with Russia.
Zelensky’s visit came a day after Trump held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders agreed to hold a second meeting later this year in Budapest.
Speaking to reporters after his talks, Zelensky confirmed that the issue of Tomahawk missiles—which have a range of 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles)—was discussed but noted that there would be no official announcement for now.
A source from the Ukrainian delegation disclosed that Zelensky had shown Trump detailed maps highlighting potential targets inside Russia during the meeting.
“I think that Russia is afraid about Tomahawks, really afraid, because it’s (a) strong weapon, and they know what we have, what kind of weapon we have, our production, and they understand that combination,” Zelensky said, apparently referring to Ukraine’s growing drone capabilities.
When asked if the meeting left him feeling more optimistic about receiving the missiles, the Ukrainian leader responded, “I’m realistic.”
“We decided that we don’t speak about it because nobody wants—I mean, the United States doesn’t want—escalation,” he added.
Following his talks with Trump, Zelensky said he immediately joined a conference call with European allies, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
Zelensky’s visit to the White House this time was a solo trip, unlike his previous one in August when European leaders accompanied him shortly after Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska.
Earlier in February, soon after Trump’s return to office, both the president and Vice President JD Vance had publicly criticized Zelensky for what they described as a lack of appreciation for previous US military aid.
When asked if his call with European leaders was prompted by Trump’s renewed engagement with Putin, Zelensky clarified, “I didn’t call them to have the support. I know we have this support.”
He also expressed openness to a potential three-way meeting with Trump and Putin in the future but did not comment on whether he would participate in the planned Budapest meeting.
What You Should Know
Zelensky’s cautious tone reflects Ukraine’s delicate diplomatic balancing act as it seeks continued US and European backing while avoiding friction over Washington’s renewed dialogue with Moscow.
His remark about being “realistic” underscores both the uncertainty surrounding new US arms supplies and Kyiv’s awareness of Trump’s preference for de-escalation with Russia.
