Washington — President Trump is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House today. This meeting comes right after a lengthy phone call Trump had with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed plans to meet in Budapest. Zelenskyy is looking for increased military support as the conflict with Russia continues. A key topic today will be the request for long-range missiles, particularly Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could significantly enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
While Trump is considering the missile request, he has mentioned wanting to consult with Putin first. This suggests he hopes the prospect of these missiles might prompt Putin to cooperate, as Trump aims to find a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Trump acknowledged discussing Tomahawks during his talk with Putin but seemed cautious about fully committing to sending them. “We need Tomahawks for the United States too,” he said. He emphasized the need to maintain a strong defense without depleting American resources. Previously, he called sending the Tomahawks a “new step of aggression” that could allow Ukraine to strike deep into Russia.
“If this war doesn’t settle, we might have to send the Tomahawks,” Trump said. His statements reflect a difficult balancing act: providing aid to Ukraine while managing relations with Russia.
The last in-person meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian leaders occurred in late September at the U.N. General Assembly. Since then, Trump and Zelenskyy have stayed in touch, particularly before Trump’s recent Middle East trip to discuss the Israel-Hamas peace deal.
Russia has shown little interest in halting the war. Ukrainian authorities reported a significant Russian attack shortly before Trump and Putin’s recent phone call. Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Olga Stefanishyna, stated, “This massive strike highlights Moscow’s true intentions.” She criticized Russia’s actions as a major blow to peace discussions.
In recent months, Trump has expressed growing frustration with Putin over the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump mentioned her efforts with Russian officials to return Ukrainian children to their families, highlighting a different dimension of the humanitarian crisis.
As Trump prepares for his upcoming meeting with Putin, U.S. and Russian advisors will meet next week in an undisclosed location. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead these initial discussions, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal encounter.
With tensions still high and military operations ongoing, this meeting may play a crucial role in shaping future U.S.-Russia relations and, hopefully, the path toward peace in Ukraine.
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Ukraine, Russia, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
