Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange with Vlodymyr Zelensky during a meeting where the Ukrainian leader was unsuccessful in securing Tomahawk missiles. The US president urged both Kyiv and Moscow to halt their ongoing conflict and find a resolution after a lengthy discussion with Zelensky at the White House. While the public appearance seemed more amicable compared to their previous meeting in February, there were still moments of tension.
Trump’s frustration with the situation has been evident since his return to office, and he appears to be leaning towards pushing Ukraine to abandon its efforts to reclaim territory lost to Russia. Reports from the Financial Times indicated that Trump was frequently using strong language during the meeting, cautioning Zelensky that Russia could devastate Ukraine if certain conditions were not met.
Allegedly, Trump pushed for Zelensky to relinquish control of the entire Donbas region, but they eventually settled on the US supporting a ceasefire at the current frontlines. Trump also hinted to Zelensky that he was hesitant about selling long-range Tomahawk missiles, equipment that Ukraine believes could significantly impact negotiations with Putin.
At the start of the discussions, Zelensky proposed an exchange where Ukraine would provide advanced drones to the US in return for Tomahawk cruise missiles. However, Trump expressed reservations about depleting US resources, a shift from earlier considerations of providing missile support to Ukraine.
During the meeting, Trump reportedly warned Zelensky about the consequences of not reaching an agreement, emphasizing the potential destruction Ukraine could face. He even displayed frustration by tossing a map of the frontline on the table, expressing his discontent with the situation.
Following the meeting, Trump took to social media to advocate for an immediate end to the conflict and suggested that both sides should maintain their current positions. Upon arriving in Florida, he reiterated the call for halting the war and hinted at Moscow retaining the territories it had seized from Kyiv.