Trump Urges Zelensky to Make Peace Deal with Russia as Ukraine Seeks Tomahawk Missiles

Relations between Trump and Zelensky have improved after Trump showed increasing frustration with Putin.

United States:

Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to negotiate a deal with Russia, dampening Kyiv's expectations for Tomahawk missiles as the US president renews efforts to end the conflict.

Trump had stated as recently as last month that he believed Ukraine could reclaim all its territory — but following his agreement to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for a new summit, the American president shifted his position, though Zelensky suggested Trump might change his mind again.

"It's good that President Trump didn't say 'no,' but for today, (he) didn't say 'yes'" regarding providing Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, Zelensky told NBC on Friday.

After their White House meeting, Trump posted on social media that their discussion was "very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL!"

"They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!" he shared online while traveling to his Florida estate.

Upon landing, Trump told reporters that Ukraine and Russia should "stop right now at the battle line."

"Go by the battle line wherever it is or else it gets too complicated," he added.

Following the meeting, Zelensky stated that Russia was "afraid" of the US-made long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, and that he maintained a "realistic" perspective about receiving these weapons from Washington.

He informed reporters that while he and Trump discussed long-range weapons, they "decided that we don't speak about it because... the United States doesn't want escalation."

Zelensky arrived in Washington after weeks of requesting Tomahawks, hoping to benefit from Trump's growing frustration with Putin after an unproductive summit in Alaska.

However, the Ukrainian president left without securing the missiles as Trump focuses on achieving another diplomatic breakthrough following last week's Gaza peace deal.

Trump has appeared considerably more optimistic about the prospects for a settlement since his lengthy call with Putin on Thursday, during which they agreed to meet soon in Budapest.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over with, without thinking about Tomahawks," Trump told journalists while hosting Zelensky.

Trump added that he believed Putin "wants to end the war."

Zelensky, who came to advocate for the long-range US-made weapons, nonetheless stated he would be prepared to exchange "thousands" of Ukrainian drones for Tomahawk missiles.

Zelensky congratulated Trump on his recent Middle East peace agreement in Gaza and expressed hope that he could achieve similar results for Ukraine. "I hope that President Trump can manage it," he said.

Diplomatic negotiations to end Russia's invasion have stalled since the Alaska summit.

The Kremlin announced Friday that "many questions" needed resolution before Putin and Trump could meet, including the composition of each negotiating team.

However, it dismissed concerns that Putin would face difficulties traveling through European airspace.

Hungary stated it would ensure Putin could enter and "hold successful talks" with the United States despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.

Since beginning his second term, Trump's stance on the Ukraine war has fluctuated dramatically.

Initially, Trump and Putin reached out to each other as the US leader criticized Zelensky as a "dictator without elections."

Tensions peaked in February when Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of "not having the cards" during a contentious Oval Office meeting.

Relations between the two have since improved as Trump has expressed growing dissatisfaction with Putin.

Nevertheless, Trump has maintained an open channel of communication with Putin, saying they "get along."

The US president has repeatedly altered his position on sanctions and other measures against Moscow following conversations with the Russian president.

Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, describing it as a "special military operation" to demilitarize the country and prevent NATO expansion.

Russia currently occupies approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory — much of it devastated by fighting.

On Friday, the Russian defense ministry announced it had captured three villages in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.