Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with United States President Donald Trump at the White House this Friday as he seeks to secure the supply of American-made Tomahawk missiles. The meeting comes amid Trump’s simultaneous plan to hold peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, raising hopes for a potential diplomatic breakthrough in the long-running war.
This will be Zelensky’s third official visit to Washington since Trump’s return to office. His earlier meetings were marked by a heated televised confrontation in February, followed by a reconciliatory session in August. The shifting tone of the U.S. administration toward the Russia-Ukraine war continues to draw global attention.
Trump, whose foreign policy moves often blend diplomacy with unpredictability, announced on Thursday that he would soon meet Putin in Hungary to explore ways to end Moscow’s invasion that began in 2022. “We had a very productive call,” Trump told reporters, revealing plans for a summit “within the next two weeks.”
According to Okay News, Zelensky’s visit was initially aimed at ramping up U.S. support against Moscow’s aggression, particularly through the acquisition of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking targets up to 1,600 kilometers away. Ukrainian officials believe that securing these weapons could tilt the battlefield dynamics in Kyiv’s favor.
However, Trump appeared cautious about Ukraine’s request. He told journalists, “We need them too, so I don’t know what we can do about that,” adding that the U.S. could not afford to deplete its own missile reserves. The president also admitted that Putin “didn’t like it” when he mentioned the possibility of supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine during their call.
Zelensky, who arrived in Washington on Thursday, expressed optimism that Trump’s recent diplomatic success in brokering a Gaza ceasefire could pave the way for progress in Eastern Europe. “We expect that the momentum of curbing terror and war that succeeded in the Middle East will help to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter).
The Ukrainian leader also stressed that the potential deployment of Tomahawks had already made Russia reconsider its military posture. “We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” he said, noting that he would also meet with U.S. defense contractors to discuss additional air defense systems.
The Kremlin has confirmed preparations for the Budapest summit, describing the Trump-Putin phone conversation as “extremely frank and trustful.” Putin’s top aide, Yuri Ushakov, said the Russian president warned that arming Ukraine with Tomahawks would “not change the situation on the battlefield” and could undermine peace efforts.
Trump’s relationship with both Putin and Zelensky has swung dramatically since he returned to the White House in January. Initially seen as sympathetic to Moscow, Trump’s tone toward Putin has hardened following an unproductive meeting in Alaska earlier this year. Meanwhile, Zelensky has regained favor with Washington after improving his diplomatic approach — even opting for formal attire in contrast to his previous, more casual appearances.
Trump, who once claimed he could end the war “within 24 hours,” is now positioning himself as a mediator capable of balancing both sides. His administration’s focus appears to be on achieving a negotiated settlement rather than escalating military aid.
As diplomatic momentum builds, all eyes are on Washington and Budapest, where the next steps may determine whether the region edges closer to peace or deeper into uncertainty.
