Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is heading to the White House on Friday with high hopes of securing long-range Tomahawk missiles from President Donald Trump, only to find the odds slipping after Trump’s lengthy chat with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Axios reported that Zelensky is pushing for advanced weaponry amidst Trump’s renewed diplomatic dance with Putin, a move that’s left Ukraine’s request hanging in uncertainty.
Let’s rewind to Wednesday, when Trump told reporters he and Zelensky would “talk about the war,” acknowledging Ukraine’s eagerness to shift to an offensive posture.
By Thursday, the plot thickened as Trump revealed a two-hour phone call with Putin, setting the stage for a chilly reception to Zelensky’s missile ambitions. It’s almost as if Trump is playing both sides, keeping everyone guessing.
From the Oval Office, Trump didn’t mince words, noting Putin “really didn’t like the idea” of arming Ukraine with Tomahawks.
He doubled down, stressing the U.S. needs its own stockpile, hinting that depleting American resources for Ukraine might not be on the table. This isn’t just caution—it’s a reminder that national interest often trumps, pun intended, foreign aid.
Trump’s social media post on Thursday about the “lengthy” call with Putin wasn’t just a casual update; it was a signal of shifting priorities.
Hours later, he floated the idea of a second summit with Putin in Budapest within two weeks, pending a high-level U.S.-Russia meeting next week. One has to wonder if Zelensky’s Friday plea is already a footnote in Trump’s broader strategy.
This isn’t the first time Trump and Putin have huddled—recall their Alaska meeting in August, spurred by discussions of secondary sanctions on nations buying Russian oil. That earlier dialogue led to sanctions on India amid a trade spat, showing Trump’s willingness to flex economic muscle. It’s a pattern: talk first, hit hard if needed.
Zelensky, undeterred, arrives with a wishlist beyond just Tomahawks, as Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna emphasized the meeting’s importance for air defenses, energy support, and tougher sanctions on Russia. She also pointed to ongoing talks for drone tech sharing and a prior critical minerals deal. It’s clear Ukraine is playing a long game, even if the odds feel stacked.
Stefanishyna’s optimism shines through as she stated, “As we have seen time and again, direct communication between our presidents has yielded the clearest mutual understanding — and Ukraine remains fully committed to this format.”
Call it diplomatic speak, but it sounds like a polite nudge for Trump to focus less on Moscow’s mood and more on Kyiv’s needs. One can’t help but admire the persistence, even if it feels like pushing a boulder uphill.
Expert opinions on Tomahawks for Ukraine are a mixed bag, with some seeing potential and others shrugging it off. Dalibor Rohac of the American Enterprise Institute lamented, “If only a small number of Tomahawks make it to Ukraine, which seems likely, they will provide a morale booster for the Ukrainian Armed Forces but, in isolation, probably won’t be a driver of major strategic breakthroughs."
Over at the Brookings Institution, Michael O’Hanlon isn’t holding his breath either, arguing Tomahawks “are unlikely to be a game-changer” given Russia’s adaptability to drone strikes and dispersed supplies.
He also flagged the risk of Russian escalation, a sobering reminder that every action has a reaction. It’s the kind of caution conservatives appreciate—think before you arm.
Yet, not everyone is pessimistic; Tom Karako from the Center for Strategic & International Studies believes Ukraine could use long-range capabilities to shift the war’s momentum. That’s the kind of hope Zelensky might cling to, though it’s hard to ignore the bigger picture of limited U.S. supplies and Trump’s hesitance. Optimism is great, but reality bites.
Meanwhile, legislative efforts like Senator Lindsey Graham’s push for secondary sanctions on Russia’s oil buyers have hit a wall in Congress, with the White House demanding flexibility for Trump’s foreign policy moves.
Graham’s deference to Trump, including on tariffs like the 25% hit on India, shows a willingness to let the president call the shots. It’s pragmatic, sure, but Europe’s reluctance to join such measures could leave Trump’s strategy half-cocked.
Trump’s earlier Truth Social post during the U.N. General Assembly, expressing confidence in Ukraine’s fight to reclaim all its territory, now reads more like a bargaining chip than a promise, per White House sources. It’s classic Trump—big words, bigger negotiations. Zelensky might hope for a firm commitment, but he’s likely getting a masterclass in deal-making instead..
