Trump says he wants to end Ukraine war without sending Tomahawk missiles
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Trump greets Zelensky at the White House. Photo: Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to Washington hoping to convince President Trump to supply his country with Tomahawk missiles, but Trump said at the top of their meeting that he hopes that won't be necessary.
Why it matters: The Ukrainian side wants clear decisions from the U.S. about what weapons it's willing to send, with Tomahawks at the top of the list, Zelensky's chief of staff told Axios before the meeting. But Trump said that after his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, his focus is on bringing the war to a swift end.
What they're saying: "I think President Zelensky wants it done and I think President Putin wants it done. Now all they have to do is get along a little bit," Trump said.
- Trump surprised the Ukrainians by announcing, shortly after Zelensky arrived in Washington, that he would be holding a summit soon with Putin in Budapest.
- Zelensky reiterated at the top of the meeting that he is ready to meet Putin any time, anywhere, but the Russian leader has so far refused.
- Trump said he knows there's "a lot of bad blood" between Zelensky and Putin, and therefore it might be easier for him to hold separate meetings with both of them in order to reach a deal.
The intrigue: There's been a months-long cycle of Trump declaring peace within reach after speaking with Putin, only to be disappointed.
- Trump acknowledged Friday that Putin might be "playing for time," but said he thinks he's serious about getting a deal.
- "I've been played all my life by the best of them and I came out really well," Trump said, referring to the idea Putin might be bluffing.
The other side: Zelensky told Axios last month that if the U.S. supplies missiles that can strike deep into Russia, he believes that could force Putin to the negotiating table.
- Zelensky even said during the meeting that Ukraine is willing to effectively trade its drones for U.S.-made Tomahawks.
- Trump confirmed the U.S. is interested in Ukraine's drones, but said the U.S. needs Tomahawks for its own security and seemed to pour cold water on the idea of supplying them any time soon.
- However, he said having Tomahawks on the table could encourage Putin to talk. "They are very dangerous weapons. It could mean an escalation. Tomahawks are a big deal," he said.
What to watch: Trump said he believes peace in Ukraine can be achieved soon, possibly even before he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of this month.
- "If flexibility is shown, I think we have a very good chance bringing this war to conclusion," Trump said.
- The Ukrainian side remains far more skeptical that Putin is serious about peace.
