U.S. President Donald Trump signaled that he's not ready to agree to sell Ukraine the Tomahawk missile system, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump has the momentum to stop the Russia-Ukraine war, now that there is a cease-fire in Gaza.
At the start of the talks, Zelenskyy congratulated Trump over landing last week's cease-fire and hostage deal in Gaza and said Trump now has "momentum" to stop the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"President Trump now has a big chance to finish this war," Zelenskyy added.
In recent days, Trump has shown an openness to selling Ukraine long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, even as Putin warned that such a move would further strain the U.S.-Russian relationship.
But following Thursday's call with Putin, Trump appeared to downplay the prospects of Ukraine getting the missiles, which have a range of about 995 miles (1,600 kilometers.)
"We need Tomahawks for the United States of America too," Trump said. "We have a lot of them, but we need them. I mean, we can't deplete our country."
Zelenskyy had been seeking the weapons, which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russian territory and target key military sites, energy facilities and critical infrastructure. Zelenskyy has argued that the potential for such strikes would help compel Putin to take Trump's calls for direct negotiations to end the war more seriously.
But Putin warned Trump during the call that supplying Kyiv with the Tomahawks "won't change the situation on the battlefield, but would cause substantial damage to the relationship between our countries," according to Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser.
Trump said he would rather end the fighting between Russia and Ukraine without providing Tomahawk missiles.
"Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks," he said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that talk of providing Tomahawks had already served a purpose by pushing Putin into talks. "The conclusion is that we need to continue with strong steps. Strength can truly create momentum for peace," Sybiha said on the social platform X late Thursday.
Meanwhile, Trump admitted that Vladimir Putin may be playing for time by agreeing to a new summit, but said he believed his Russian counterpart wanted a deal to end the Ukraine war.
"I am," Trump said when an AFP reporter asked him whether he was concerned that Putin was trying to buy himself more time.
"But I've been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well. So, it's possible, a little time, it's alright. But I think that I'm pretty good at this stuff. I think that he wants to make a deal."
Zelenskyy voiced support Friday for Trump's suggestion that Moscow and Kyiv should halt hostilities in Ukraine, "stop where we are" and begin negotiations.
"He is right. President is right, and we have to stop where we are," Zelenskyy told reporters after meeting Trump at the White House. "This is important, to stop where we are and then to speak."
Trump wrote on Truth Social that his meeting with Zelenskyy was "very interesting and cordial," and he urged Kyiv and Moscow to "stop the killing and make a deal."
"They should stop where they are. Let both claim victory, let history decide," Trump wrote.
Zelenskyy described the discussions as "productive," citing talks on air defense and production.
"We spoke about long range, of course," he said. "We decided that we don't speak about it because nobody wants -- I mean, the United States doesn't want this."
Asked if he was optimistic about receiving U.S. Tomahawk long-range missiles, Zelenskyy replied, "I am realistic," adding that both sides agreed not to disclose details of the talks.
The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly emphasized his country's need for Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would allow Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory
Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs Tomahawk missiles and offered thousands of Ukrainian drones in exchange, during his meeting with Trump.
The Ukrainian leader said he later spoke with European and NATO partners about security guarantees following the meeting, stressing Kyiv's desire for U.S. involvement. "We count on the leadership of the United States," he said.
Trump has said Ukraine and Russia "want to end the war" and plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin soon in Hungary to discuss a potential peace deal.
