Tomahawk missiles: Trump rejects Zelensky's request for long-range weapons
The US will not provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, despite President Zelensky's visit to Washington to secure them.
Zelenski: "This is today the position of the American side. The subject has not been canceled"
US President Donald Trump refused to make a statement after his meeting on Friday, 17 October, which lasted around two and a half hours. President Zelensky, in turn, refused to discuss the missiles with journalists.
Zelensky: "The topic is still on the table"
US President Donald Trump reportedly told President Zelensky at the White House that he did not intend to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, at least for now, according to the publication Axios, which cites two informed sources.
Sources say that during the "tense" talks, Mr Trump stressed that his current priority is diplomacy and assessed that providing the Tomahawk cruise missiles could undermine this effort.
"Of course we discussed long-range missiles. I do not wish to make statements on this subject," Mr Zelensky said after meeting Mr Trump.
He added that he and Mr Trump decided not to discuss this publicly "because the United States does not want this escalation."
"This is the American side's position today, but no one has cancelled this topic. We need to work more on it," Mr Zelensky specified.
Asked whether he was leaving Washington more optimistic that Ukraine would receive the requested cruise missiles, the Ukrainian leader replied: "I am a realist."
Trump calls for 'end to the killings' on social media
Around 45 minutes after Mr Zelensky left the White House, Mr Trump posted a message on Truth Social calling for an end to the war.
"The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky was very interesting and cordial. I told him, as I strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killings and make a deal! Enough blood has been shed, and the borders are defined by war and courage. The parties should stop where they are now. Let both claim victory, let history decide! No more shooting, no more death, no more huge sums of money being spent. This is a war that never should have started if I had been President. Thousands of people are being slaughtered every week - STOP, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!" Mr Trump wrote.
Ukraine needs strong US security guarantees
According to Axios, during the meeting, Mr Trump informed Mr Zelensky about his phone conversation on Thursday with Vladimir Putin. He specified that the American proposal envisages an end to the war with the front lines frozen in their current position.
The Ukrainian President agreed with Mr Trump that Russia and Ukraine should cease fighting, adding that the American leader and Mr Putin should start talking about a just and lasting peace.
Mr Zelensky stated that he is open to bilateral, trilateral, or any other format that "can bring us closer to peace."
He insisted that Ukraine needs strong security guarantees from the United States that it will not be attacked again by Russia, following a hypothetical ceasefire, and stressed that the Trump administration is the only one that has an active dialogue with the Moscow regime.
Regarding security guarantees from European states, Mr Zelensky stated that an agreement on this matter is close to being finalised.
Key takeaways from the discussion:
Mr Trump stated that his summit with Mr Putin in Budapest is unlikely to lead to a face-to-face meeting between the Russian leader and Mr Zelensky.
Mr Zelensky told Mr Trump that he "is ready to discuss peace in any format - bilateral, trilateral, it doesn't matter" - given that the American and Russian presidents agreed to meet in Budapest in two weeks.
Mr Trump said they would discuss the subject of Tomahawk missiles, but that this could represent a major escalation of the conflict, adding that the US needs its long-range missile system for its own defence.
Mr Trump said that "great progress" is being made in efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
Donald Trump assessed that Ukraine's attacks on targets inside Russia would represent an "escalation" of the war.
Mr Zelensky proposed a deal according to which the US would receive Ukrainian drones in exchange for Tomahawk missiles, which Mr Trump said he was interested in.
Mr Trump admitted there is a chance that Mr Putin might try to trick him "to gain time" but added he is sure the Russian leader "wants to make a deal" to end the war.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
