Trump and Zelensky Set to Discuss Tomahawk Missile Support Amid Ukraine Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to confer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday, and key discussions regarding the potential provision of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine are anticipated to be central to the meeting.

The recent ceasefire brokered by Trump between Israel and Gaza has heightened expectations that his administration will now focus more intently on resolving the conflict stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

While Trump has indicated increasing backing for Kyiv following his recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which yielded no significant progress, he has been noncommittal regarding the provision of the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) range missiles that Ukraine desires.

Just prior to his meeting with Zelensky, Trump announced that he and Putin had agreed to convene in Budapest to explore possibilities for concluding what he referred to as the “inglorious” war between Russia and Ukraine.

Furthermore, he expressed skepticism about the likelihood of Ukraine receiving Tomahawk missiles, stating on Thursday that the U.S. must not «deplete» its own military reserves.

Russia has consistently warned that the supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could escalate the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for nearly four years, and could further strain U.S.-Russian relations.

The timing of Thursday’s communication aligns with Putin’s usual behavior of reaching out to Trump whenever the U.S. president is contemplating a firmer stance against Russia.

Zelensky remarked, “We can already see that Moscow is eager to restart discussions as soon as it hears about Tomahawks.”

Despite this, Trump seems inclined to adopt more forceful measures to bring the conflict to a close, fulfill his long-standing campaign promise, and enhance his chances for the Nobel Peace Prize.

This week, the Financial Times reported that the U.S. has been sharing intelligence with Ukraine for several months, facilitating drone attacks on Russian oil facilities, which has resulted in fuel shortages and disrupted a crucial revenue stream for Moscow.

“Trump’s approach involves both incentives and penalties. The summit in Alaska was a significant incentive, but now he is focusing on penalties,” explained Jim Townsend, a senior advisor at the Atlantic Council and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy.

During a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned that there would be repercussions for Russia if a peace agreement is not achieved.

“If a reconciliation isn’t feasible in the near term, then the U.S., along with our allies, will implement measures to impose costs on Russia for its ongoing aggression,” Hegseth stated. “Should we need to take action, the U.S. Department of Defense is prepared to contribute in ways unique to our capabilities.”

Hegseth is expected to play a significant role in deliberating the logistics concerning any potential missile transfers, particularly regarding how many may be available for allocation. Ukraine currently does not possess the naval vessels or ground-based launch platforms necessary to deploy Tomahawk missiles and will require additional support for their operation.

In a September 28 interview with Fox News, Vice President J.D. Vance mentioned that Zelensky had requested Washington to facilitate the purchase of Tomahawks by European countries willing to transfer them to Ukraine. Vance indicated that the final decision would rest with Trump.

The upcoming meeting with Zelensky will also include Vance, Hegseth, and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

“Witkoff has earned Putin’s trust. In a world where trust is scarce, Witkoff plays a crucial role,” Townsend told The Moscow Times.