US President Trump Meets Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, Hesitates on Sending Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House yesterday amid growing global pressure over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
 
 
During the meeting, President Trump expressed hesitation over supplying long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns that the US military needs them as well.
 
 
According to aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yuri Ushakov, the Russian leader had warned President Trump in a phone call on Thursday that the deployment of Tomahawk missiles would not alter the battlefield situation, but would severely damage US-Russia relations.
 
 
Following his talks with Mr Zelenskyy, President Trump called on both sides to halt fighting and accept the current battle lines as a basis for de-escalation.
 
 
Mr. Trump was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
President Zelenskyy’s visit marked his third trip to the US since President Trump returned to office.
 
 
During their discussions, President Zelenskyy offered to supply drones to the US in exchange for long-range missile support. He also congratulated President Trump on the Gaza ceasefire deal, adding that with U.S. support, “we can end this war.
 
 
Earlier, during their phone conversation on Thursday, President Trump and President Putin agreed to meet in Budapest, Hungary. This would be their second face-to-face meeting following their August summit in Alaska, which ended without a breakthrough in efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.