President Trump informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday that the U.S. would not commit to providing long-range Tomahawk missiles, at least for the time being. This decision reportedly led to a tense and “bad” meeting between the two leaders, according to multiple reports.
The unexpected shift in posture comes one day after President Trump held a lengthy call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sources indicate that Trump is now prioritizing diplomacy and believes that providing the advanced Tomahawk missiles could undermine efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
A Tense and Abrupt End
The meeting, which lasted two and a half hours, was described as “not easy,” with one source saying “it was bad.” While “nobody shouted,” Trump was characterized as “tough” and gave “several strong statements” that, at points, made the meeting “a bit emotional,” according to the sources.
The meeting ended abruptly when Trump concluded, “I think we’re done. Let’s see what happens next week,” referencing planned talks between the U.S. and Russia. Trump is slated to meet with Putin in Budapest within the next two weeks.
Freezing the Front Lines
During the contentious discussion, Trump briefed Zelenskyy on his call with Putin. The U.S. President stressed that the current U.S. proposal for a diplomatic solution involves a cessation of the war with the front lines frozen in place—a proposition likely to be difficult for Ukraine to accept as it would cement Russian territorial gains.
Trump publicly echoed this sentiment in a Truth Social post following the meeting.
After describing the encounter as “interesting” and “cordial,” he stated he told both Zelenskyy and Putin that it was time to “stop where they are,” adding: “Let both claim Victory, let History decide!”
Zelenskyy “Realistic” After Pushback
Zelenskyy, who had hoped to secure commitments for new weapons during his Washington visit, later confirmed discussions on the Tomahawks but stated that both sides agreed not to discuss the matter publicly to “avoid escalation.”
When asked if he was optimistic about receiving the missiles, Zelenskyy replied, “I’m realistic.”
Sources revealed that in reality, the Ukrainian President pushed hard for the missiles but was met with unyielding pushback from Trump, who showed “no flexibility.”
European Allies “Puzzled” and Coordinating Support
Immediately after the meeting, Zelenskyy held a conference call with European leaders. A source on the call noted that several European counterparts seemed “puzzled” by Trump’s apparent change of heart. Soon after, the European leaders began releasing coordinated statements of support for Ukraine, a clear signal that the Trump meeting did not achieve the desired outcome for Kyiv.
Looking ahead, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed drafting peace for Ukraine along the lines of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called for an urgent follow-up call between European national security advisers over the weekend.
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