U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could be a premature and dangerous move that risks escalating the ongoing conflict with Russia.
During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump emphasized restraint:
“I hope we won’t need them. We want to end the war without even discussing Tomahawks,” he stated.
Drones in Exchange for Tomahawks
At a joint press conference before the meeting, Zelensky suggested that Ukraine could supply the U.S. with drones in exchange for Tomahawk missiles. However, Trump rejected the idea, saying that while the weapons are “excellent,” they are also “very dangerous” and could provoke further escalation.
Before the talks, the Ukrainian government had expressed hope that Tomahawk deliveries and other U.S. weapons would be among the key issues on the agenda. Yet, following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump remarked that the U.S. itself needs these missile systems for its own defense.
Upcoming Meeting with Putin in Budapest
President Trump also revealed plans for a one-on-one meeting with Putin in Hungary, excluding direct Ukrainian participation. Despite this, he promised to maintain communication with Zelensky, stressing that relations between Moscow and Kyiv remain deeply strained.
“There’s a lot of hostility between Russia and Ukraine. That hatred needs to disappear,” Trump said, adding that he hopes to “make things pleasant for everyone.”
Trump emphasized that Russia, Ukraine, and the United States would all be involved in discussions “in one way or another,” though possibly through separate channels.
The last meeting between Trump and Putin, held in Alaska in August, ended without any tangible progress.
