Zelensky fails to secure Tomahawk missiles at talks with Trump

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is not ready to supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, a key request from President Volodymyr Zelensky. In a meeting at the White House on Friday, Trump appeared non-committal about the issue, suggesting that supplying such advanced weaponry could lead to further escalation in the conflict.

Zelensky had traveled to Washington seeking to secure these long-range missiles, which he believes would severely weaken Russian President Vladimir Putin's war economy by targeting Russia's oil and energy facilities. However, Trump expressed concerns that providing Ukraine with Tomahawks could mean a significant escalation of hostilities and said his country needed them for its own defense.

The Ukrainian leader acknowledged the lack of progress on this front during his talks with Trump, while emphasizing that any military aid would be used to protect lives and guarantee security for Ukraine. In a statement released after meeting Trump, Zelensky noted that he had called European leaders to share details of their discussion, adding that "the main priority now is to protect as many lives as possible".

Meanwhile, Trump reported having a "very productive" phone call with Putin on Thursday, and the two leaders are set to meet in person in Hungary soon. However, some experts have questioned whether this forthcoming summit will lead to meaningful progress on ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

As for Zelensky's diplomatic efforts, there are concerns that Trump's reluctance to supply advanced weaponry to Ukraine could be a strategic setback for the Ukrainian leader ahead of his upcoming trip to Europe.

This whole situation with the Tomahawk missiles is super complicated... I mean, on one hand, you feel bad for Ukraine and want them to have all the help they can get against Russia . But at the same time, if Trump's right that giving them these missiles could escalate things even more, then it's a double-edged sword .

I'm also kinda curious about why Putin is suddenly getting all chummy with Trump after this meeting . Are they just trying to smooth things over for the summit? And what's the plan there again? Will they actually agree on something meaningful, or will it just be a bunch of empty promises ?

Ukraine's in a tough spot and I think we should all be supporting them as much as possible . But at the same time, we can't just throw more fuel to the fire without thinking about the consequences .

I'm getting a bad vibe from this... like, what even is going on with these guys? Trump's all about defense for the US but then he's not willing to help Ukraine which is literally fighting for its life over there. I don't get it. The whole situation just feels like a mess and I'm worried that Zelensky's gonna get even more backed into a corner. It's not just about the missiles, it's about the lives being lost on both sides. And now Trump's having a "productive" call with Putin? Like what does that even mean? Are they just gonna be buddy buddies or what?

I don't get why Trump is being so strict about this Tomahawk missile thing... like, isn't it better to help Ukraine out when they're in such a tough spot? Putin's already got the upper hand with all that advanced equipment he's got. If Ukraine gets some of these missiles, maybe Russia will think twice before attacking them again. Plus, Zelensky seems like a pretty reasonable guy, so I'm surprised Trump isn't being more supportive...

I'm worried about Ukraine right now . It feels like they're stuck in this limbo where nobody is providing them with the help they need, and it's only gonna get worse from here . I mean, can you imagine if we were in their shoes? It's not fair that Trump's being all non-committal about the Tomahawk missiles – it's like he's more concerned about his own defense than the lives of innocent people . And now with Putin and Trump meeting up, I'm scared to think what might happen next . We gotta keep an eye on this situation and hope that somehow, someway, Ukraine gets the help they deserve .

I don't get why Trump is being so tight-lipped about helping Ukraine . They need those Tomahawk missiles to take down Russia's energy facilities and weaken Putin's grip on the country . It's not like they're asking for a nuclear response or anything . The fact that he's saying it could lead to more escalation is just a bunch of red tape . I mean, what's the worst that could happen? Russia takes over Ukraine and we're all stuck in a war zone? Not exactly the most reassuring prospect for anyone, if you ask me .

And can we talk about how Zelensky is being super cool under pressure right now? He's still trying to negotiate with Trump while acknowledging that not much has come out of it . I guess when your country is in the midst of a war, you just have to roll with it and keep pushing for what you need .

The thing is, if they don't get those missiles, Ukraine's going to be stuck on its own, trying to fend off Russia without any real support . It's like, we should be helping them out here, considering the whole situation with Putin and all that . Not just sitting back and waiting for someone else to step in .

Anyway, I'm keeping an eye on this situation. Hope they can figure something out soon .

I'm really worried about this situation with Ukraine . I mean, if we're not gonna give 'em those Tomahawk missiles, it's like we're not taking Russia's aggression seriously enough. Putin's just gonna keep on pushing and we'll be stuck in this stalemate forever. And what's the point of even having a summit between Trump and Putin if nothing's gonna change? It feels like we're just delaying the inevitable.

And can you blame Ukraine for trying to defend themselves? I mean, would you want some foreign army just waltzing into your country and taking over? Didn't think so. Zelensky's gotta do what he thinks is best for his country, even if it means going against Trump's wishes. It's all about politics and who's gonna give in on this one.

I'm not saying we should be throwing missiles at Russia or anything, but can't we just find a way to help Ukraine without escalating things further? I don't know what the answer is, but we need some kind of solution ASAP before it gets any worse .

just saw this and I'm already feeling anxious about what might happen next... if the US doesn't provide those Tomahawk missiles, it's gonna be super tough on Ukraine and Russia is just gonna keep getting stronger... Putin's war economy is like a cancer that needs to be cut off ASAP!

it's like trump is playing both sides here ukraine needs those tomahawks to fight back against russia but at the same time, trumps all like "hey let's have more talks with putin" that doesn't sound like a winning strategy to me anyway, zelensky seems pretty chill about it tho i mean he's still trying to protect his people and all but its hard not to wonder if this whole thing is just a game of cat and mouse between trumps team and putins team

trump's stance on this is super sus ... i mean, come on, he's always talking about how we need to be tough and strong, but when it comes down to it, he can't seem to make a decision . zelensky is literally fighting for his life over there, and trump is more concerned with not escalating the conflict . what's going on here? is trump really that scared of russia or is this just another case of him not wanting to get involved in foreign policy?

anyway, it's clear that trump's reluctance to supply tomahawk missiles is a major setback for zelensky's diplomatic efforts . the ukrainian leader was really counting on getting some serious military aid from us, and now he's gonna have to go back to europe empty-handed . i just hope he can still make something happen at that summit with trump... fingers crossed

US-Ukraine missile standoff: 74% chance of conflict escalation if Tomahawks aren't supplied

45% of Americans support arming Ukraine, but Trump's hesitation puts lives at risk . Putin's war economy is like a Hydra - cut one head and two more grow back! .

31% chance of Putin invading Poland if diplomatic efforts fail . Can't stress enough how crucial it is to secure those Tomahawks for Ukraine .

Ukraine's GDP has dropped by 23% since the war started . Zelensky needs that military aid ASAP or economic situation will continue to deteriorate .

Trump's meeting with Putin was "very productive" but did he really mean it? . We need concrete action, not just PR stunts!

Next summit in Hungary - fingers crossed for meaningful progress . But if Ukraine doesn't get the support they need, the war will drag on and lives will be lost ️.

52% of European leaders back Zelensky's diplomatic efforts . Let's hope Trump sees the bigger picture !

I gotta disagree with this whole situation... I mean, come on, what's the worst that could happen if we send some missiles to Ukraine? Like, Russia is gonna start a war because we gave 'em a few cruise missiles? Give me a break! Putin's been all over the place already, why should we let him dictate our foreign policy? And what's with Trump being all non-committal about it? Doesn't he know that sometimes you gotta take a stand and show some backbone? Zelensky's just trying to protect his people, and if we won't help, then maybe he should just start looking elsewhere for allies.

The US always plays it safe when it comes to global conflicts. It's like they're stuck in neutral mode, waiting for someone else to make the move . Trump is right that advanced weaponry can lead to more escalation, but it feels like a cop-out on his part. What's really at play here? The fact that he had a "very productive" call with Putin, yet isn't willing to give Ukraine the support they need... it's hard not to wonder if there's some kind of deal brewing behind closed doors

I'm worried about Ukraine ... They need those Tomahawk missiles to take out Russia's oil facilities and weaken Putin's war machine, but Trump is holding back. It's like he's not getting the bigger picture . I mean, what's the point of even having a summit with Putin if they're just going to rehash the same old ideas?

It's also weird that Trump is more concerned about escalating hostilities than the lives lost on both sides ... Zelensky's trying to protect as many people as possible, but Trump's more worried about US defense interests. It feels like politics as usual ...

I'm curious to see how this all plays out in Hungary ... Will they actually make some progress or is it just another meeting with no real impact? Only time will tell

omg what's going on with trump and zelensky? i was following this thread but somehow missed it , guess i'm too late lol. anyway, i think trump's hesitation on supplying tomahawks is pretty understandable. we can't just throw more fuel into the fire in a conflict that's already super messy. but at the same time, zelensky makes some legit points about how these missiles could seriously hurt russia's war economy and put pressure on putin to negotiate.

it's like they're playing this game of cat and mouse where one misstep can lead to more bloodshed. i'm kinda hopeful that the upcoming summit between trump and putin might be a chance for them to find common ground, but we'll see . it's also concerning that trump is prioritizing his own country's defense over ze's requests for aid. anyhoo, fingers crossed for peace

man... think about it, what does it even mean when we say "escalation" in this context? is it just about numbers on a map or is it about lives being lost? trump's all like oh we can't give ukraine these missiles cuz that'd be too much and that's when zelensky's all like no dude i gotta protect my people. but what if the problem ain't with giving them the missiles, it's with us not taking responsibility for the mess we're making? Putin's got his own agenda, and trump's playing right into it by not supporting ukraine...

Ugh, can you believe this ?! Trump is being super shady about helping Ukraine with those Tomahawk missiles. I mean, what's up with that? Zelensky is literally trying to protect his country from all these Russian attacks and Trump is just sitting there like "meh" . It's not like he's asking for the moon here, just some basic military aid to keep people safe. But no, Trump's all about playing it cool and saying that giving Ukraine Tomahawks would lead to more escalation... yeah right . Like, what's he gonna do, sit down with Putin and tell him "dude, you're not getting away with this" ? It's so frustrating when politicians just prioritize their own egos over actual human lives . And don't even get me started on the whole "he needs those missiles for his own defense" thing... like, what does that even mean? Is he saying Ukraine is some kind of threat to America now? It's just so messed up .

"The art of diplomacy is less about giving an answer than it is about delaying the question."

It seems like Zelensky and Trump are stuck in limbo, with neither side willing to give in on the issue of Tomahawk cruise missiles. While I can understand why Trump is hesitant to escalate the conflict further, one can't help but wonder if this decision is ultimately going to hurt Ukraine's efforts to protect its citizens. Meanwhile, Zelensky's diplomatic efforts are being put to the test, and it remains to be seen how these developments will play out in Europe. Will anything change when he meets with European leaders? Only time will tell!

I'm just not sure about this whole Tomahawk thing . It feels like we're getting bogged down in the military aspect and forgetting about the human cost of this conflict. I mean, we should be thinking about how these missiles are going to impact innocent civilians, not just about who gets to have more advanced weaponry . And what's with Trump's sudden change of heart? Was it always about making a point or is he just feeling the pressure from Congress and the EU? It's like we're playing a game of geopolitical whack-a-mole, where everyone's just trying to outmaneuver each other without really solving anything . And don't even get me started on the summit with Putin - how can two people who've been at odds for so long just magically find common ground? I'm not saying it's impossible, but I need to see some real progress before I start believing in fairy tales

I'm super frustrated with this whole situation . Like, what's taking so long?! Ukraine is literally fighting for its life here and Trump's all like "meh" about sending some missiles that would totally turn the tables in their favor . It's not just about Ukraine or Russia, it's about all of us who care about human lives and preventing more suffering. Putin's war economy is already super strained , so if those Tomahawks were to hit his energy facilities, it would be a total game-changer for the Ukrainian people .

And Trump's gotta be thinking about some alternate reality where Ukraine doesn't need all that firepower ... meanwhile, Zelensky's over here trying to negotiate and protect lives, while also dealing with the stress of not getting the support he needs from his own leader . It's like, can we just get on the same page already?! This whole situation is super concerning and I'm worried that Trump's indecision is gonna cost Ukraine big time .