Image: US President Donald Trump greets the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the entrance to the West Wing Lobby of the White House

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Zelensky Faces Setback as Trump Retreats from Tomahawk Missile Deal

Washington — What began as a hopeful diplomatic visit ended in disappointment for Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s latest trip to the White House on October 17, 2025, marked his third meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, but this time he left without the commitment he sought most: American Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The timing of the meeting could hardly have been more complex. Just a day earlier, President Trump had spoken by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and announced an upcoming summit in Budapest, Hungary — a move that reshaped the diplomatic landscape and immediately weakened Ukraine’s bargaining position.

Despite cordial gestures and polite exchanges, the atmosphere in Washington was tense. Zelenskyy pressed his case for U.S. long-range missiles to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, but Trump made clear his new priority: diplomacy over escalation. “We would rather have peace first than supply cruise missiles,” he said, adding pointedly, “We need these weapons ourselves.”

The remarks sent ripples through the corridors of Kyiv’s government. What some called a “Tomahawk retreat” appeared to signal a deliberate recalibration — one aimed at testing Moscow’s willingness to negotiate before offering Ukraine any new strategic firepower. Trump, referring to himself as a “mediator president,” declared that Putin “wants to end this war — otherwise I wouldn’t talk like that.”

The U.S. president then outlined his next steps: a one-on-one meeting with Putin in Budapest, with Zelenskyy instructed to “stand ready.” Trump later reinforced his stance on Truth Social, writing, “Enough blood has been shed; borders are defined by war and courage. They should stop where they are now.”

Those words landed heavily in Kyiv. For Ukraine, they implied acceptance of current Russian territorial gains — a reversal from earlier U.S. statements hinting at support for Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim occupied lands.

The broader message was unmistakable. Washington now expects movement at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield. For Zelenskyy, the dream of equipping Ukraine with Tomahawks has been deferred, perhaps transformed into a diplomatic bargaining chip for future talks. What was meant to be a breakthrough in military support has become a sobering reminder that in this new phase of diplomacy, the path to peace may not run through the missile silos after all.