Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to advocate for Tomahawk missiles, capable of striking 2,500 km into Russia, during his third visit since January. The meeting follows Trump’s “very productive” call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they discussed trade post-Ukraine war and agreed to face-to-face talks in Hungary, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump, who initially considered arming Ukraine with Tomahawks, expressed concerns about depleting US stockpiles after the Putin call. The call came hours after Russia launched a major assault on Ukraine with 28 ballistic missiles and 320 drones, which Ukraine’s ambassador labeled as Moscow’s tactic of “terror and exhaustion.” Hungarian PM Viktor Orban supported the planned Budapest talks, urging Europe to prioritize dialogue over war.
Despite strained relations earlier, Trump recently shifted his stance, backing Ukraine’s goal to reclaim all its territory. In July, he set a ceasefire deadline for Putin, threatening sanctions, though no concrete outcomes followed their August Alaska summit. India’s foreign ministry also refuted Trump’s claim that PM Narendra Modi agreed to halt Russian oil purchases, amid US efforts to curb Russia’s energy trade.
