Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the White House for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The leaders of the two countries met on the residence’s porch but refrained from making comments to the media.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Key Issues of the Meeting
According to media reports, the official meeting between Zelensky and Trump will take place not in the Oval Office but in the Cabinet Room of the White House in a working lunch format. The main topic of discussion will be the possibility of supplying Ukraine with American Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 1,000 miles (over 1,600 km) and significantly exceed the capabilities of the ATACMS missile systems already used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
One day before the meeting, Donald Trump emphasized that Tomahawk missiles remain important for the defense capabilities of the United States itself. At the same time, on October 7, he confirmed that the issue of transferring these missiles to Ukraine would be considered if Russia does not cease its military aggression. Before making a decision, the U.S. president plans to consult with representatives of the Russian Federation.
Moscow’s Reaction and Prospects for Ukraine
“Previously, on October 2, Putin stated that the supply of American long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would lead to an ‘absolutely new level of escalation,’ particularly in relations between Moscow and Washington. Putin also downplayed the significance of these missiles, calling them ‘not quite modern,’ and noted that providing these missiles to Ukraine ‘will not change the balance of power on the battlefield.'”
Experts note that the potential supply of Tomahawks would significantly enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities in its confrontation with Russia. Amid the ongoing war, Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to Western partners for long-range weapons that exceed the capabilities of existing Ukrainian solutions, including the ‘Palyanytsia’ and ‘Flamingo’ systems. However, these domestic developments currently cannot compete in effectiveness with Western counterparts such as the Tomahawk.
The Tomahawk, developed by RTX, has high speed and power, allowing it to strike at significant distances despite modern enemy air defense systems. This could change the balance of power on the front, expanding the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to hit strategic targets deep in the enemy’s rear.