Tomahawks, Putin and path to peace: what Zelenskyy and Trump discussed at White House
Photo: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the White House (Getty Images)
The leaders of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, met at the White House on October 17. Before the meeting, the two presidents had held a series of phone conversations, while on the eve of the talks, Trump also spoke with Vladimir Putin.
Read below for the main topics and outcomes of the Zelenskyy-Trump meeting, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.
The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump began, as tradition dictates, on the White House porch. However, unlike previous occasions, this summit did not take place in the Oval Office. This time, the two leaders met over a working lunch, preceded by a brief press appearance where both presidents made short statements to the media.
Trump's remarks
The press briefing began with opening remarks from US President Donald Trump, who outlined the main topics of discussion, military assistance to Ukraine, his recent conversation with Vladimir Putin, and the upcoming summit with the Russian leader. During the exchange, Trump once again commented on President Zelenskyy’s appearance, a lighthearted reference to their earlier, now-famous Oval Office meeting.
The US president explained that the upcoming summit with Putin would likely take place in Hungary, noting that both leaders have a positive view of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and that the country offers a secure venue. He mentioned that the meeting would be bilateral, though Zelenskyy would remain in constant contact.
Trump said that Putin supposedly wants to end the war and, when asked by reporters who is "handling the talks better," Zelenskyy or Putin, he replied that both were doing well.
Reporters repeatedly asked Trump whether the US would agree to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. He reiterated that these missiles are needed by the United States itself, as is much of the other weaponry previously sent to Kyiv. He added that he hoped the war could be ended without the need to discuss Tomahawks at all.
Zelenskyy's remarks
In his opening statement, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on his success in achieving peace in the Middle East and expressed confidence that, with US support, Ukraine could also bring the war to an end. He emphasized that Ukraine is ready to engage in talks with Russia in any format that could lead to a just and lasting peace.
During the exchange with the press, the leaders also briefly discussed Russia’s outlandish idea of building a tunnel between Russia and the United States. Zelenskyy dismissed the notion, while Trump reportedly reacted with a smile.
Meeting summary
The meeting between the two leaders lasted for more than two hours, significantly longer than scheduled. After the discussions at the White House, Zelenskyy held a joint phone call with several European leaders and later spoke to reporters, sharing details and outcomes from his talks with the US president.
He said that long-range weapons had indeed been discussed during the meeting, but both sides agreed not to make the topic public. According to Zelenskyy, the United States does not want escalation, and therefore, the leaders decided to avoid giving detailed answers on the matter.
As expected, journalists were particularly interested in the issue of Tomahawk missiles. Zelenskyy confirmed that the topic had been raised and emphasized that it remains on the table for future negotiations, though he advised the press to seek further details from the American side.
When asked about possible territorial concessions, Zelenskyy described the matter as highly sensitive and the most difficult part of any negotiation process. He noted that Russia’s position remains focused on seizing as much Ukrainian territory as possible and that Moscow now demands a territorial agreement before any ceasefire. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine’s stance is clear: first, a ceasefire, then talks to understand both sides’ positions.
While Zelenskyy was answering journalists’ questions, Trump posted his own summary on Truth Social, calling the meeting "interesting." He wrote that he had told both Zelenskyy and Putin that the time had come to end the war, suggesting that both sides should remain where they currently stand, declare victory, and let history judge.
When asked for his reaction to Trump’s proposal, Zelenskyy said that he agreed with the idea, noting that it was indeed time to stop where things stand and start talking.
