Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about his recent meeting with Donald Trump during his visit to the United States. He shared the details in an interview with NBC News.
According to Zelensky, the discussions mainly focused on strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and the issue of long-range weapons. The president openly confirmed that Ukraine had requested Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States. However, no final decision has been made yet.
“President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ and that’s a good thing. But he hasn’t said ‘yes’ either,” Zelensky said, noting that talks are still ongoing.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that Tomahawk missiles would significantly enhance his country’s defense and help reduce threats from Russia. He also stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is deeply concerned about this possibility.
“I believe Putin is afraid that the U.S. might supply us with Tomahawks. He knows we are aware of the locations of his military targets. That’s why he’s nervous about these weapons reaching Ukraine,” Zelensky explained.
According to reports, the presidents of the U.S. and Ukraine held a closed-door meeting at the White House on October 17. The main topics were security, diplomacy, and arms supplies.
Zelensky told reporters that no public statements about the agreements would be made, explaining that “Washington does not want to escalate the situation.”
After the meeting, Trump posted on his social media accounts, urging Moscow and Kyiv to begin peace talks as soon as possible. He said that ending hostilities and reaching an agreement through diplomacy was “the most reasonable step for now.”
Sources from Axios and CNN reported that during the closed discussions at the White House, Trump responded cautiously to Zelensky’s Tomahawk request. He reportedly declined immediate delivery, emphasizing that “restoring peace through diplomacy” was his top priority.
Zelensky, meanwhile, reaffirmed that Ukraine would use every opportunity to defend its independence. He said he still hopes for strong military cooperation with the U.S. and that Trump’s lack of a “no” means “the doors remain open.”
The Ukrainian public has supported Zelensky’s trip, expecting that relations with Washington will reach a new stage. Analysts believe that Trump’s cautious approach reflects broader U.S. strategic interests in the region.
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