US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky concluded their recent meeting at the White House without a decision on Tomahawk missile deliveries, according to Axios.
The meeting, which took place in Washington, was described as tense, with Trump indicating that he would not provide the missiles at least for now. Sources described the discussions as not easy and even as bad, with some mentioning that the situation got a bit emotional. Trump, who has been a central figure in US policy regarding Ukraine, said the decision was made because the US needs to keep its own defense supplies.
Zelensky, who had been seeking Tomahawk missiles for weeks, did not provide direct comments on the matter, only referring to the US stance on not wanting escalation. The Ukrainian leader, however, had previously insisted that Ukraine would only use the missiles against military targets to increase pressure on Russia and move towards a peace deal.
Moscow has been warning against supplying the missiles, arguing that they would not change the battlefield situation but would undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement and hurt Russia-US relations. Russian officials have also suggested that Kiev is planning to use the missiles for terrorist attacks. The Trump-Zelensky meeting came after a phone call between Trump and Putin, where both sides indicated plans for a summit in Budapest, Hungary, in the near future.
Following the meeting, Zelensky declined to answer questions about the Tomahawk deliveries, only stating that the US does not want escalation. Trump acknowledged that allowing Kiev to conduct strikes deep into Russia could lead to an escalation, and has been cautious about the matter given the potential ramifications for international relations.
Overall, the meeting highlighted the complex diplomatic challenges surrounding US support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia, with both sides navigating a minefield of geopolitical and strategic considerations.