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The US will not supply long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, President Trump told Ukraine’s President Zelensky during a meeting at the White House on Friday.
Sources told Axios that President Trump denied Zelensky’s request for the weapons, which would allow Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia.
In recent weeks, President Trump had signalled he might be willing to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. The Ukrainians have repeatedly asked for the weapons. According to Axios’s sources, Trump has now changed his mind, and believes giving the weapons to Ukraine would undermine efforts to bring the war to an end.
The meeting was “tense,” the sources said.
“Nobody shouted, but Trump was tough,” one source said.
Another added: “Trump gave several strong statements during the meeting and at some points it got a bit emotional.”
The meeting is said to have lasted two-and-a-half hours, and ended with Trump saying “Let’s see what happens next week,” in reference to planned talks between the US and Russia.
President Trump spoke to Russian President Putin in a phone call on Thursday, a day before his meeting with Zelensky. Trump briefed Zelensky on what was said during the call.
In a post on Truth Social after the meeting, President Trump reiterated his goal of bringing the war to an end. “Enough blood has been shed,” he wrote.
“The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine 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! Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent. This is a War that would have never started if I were President. Thousands of people being slaughtered each and every week — NO MORE, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!”
Zelensky went on to a meeting with European leaders, who were apparently “puzzled” about Trump’s unwillingness to provide the missiles. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reported to have proposed a peace deal along the lines of President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza.
President Trump is now scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart, President Putin, in Hungary at some point over the next two weeks.
