Trump and Zelenskyy to meet again in the US: Will Tomahawk missiles be on the table?

Key points

• The meeting will take place on October 18 in Washington. Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in the US on October 16.
• Earlier, the leaders discussed the Tomahawk missile supplies during phone calls on October 11–12. Zelenskyy called those talks productive.
• Trump said he had partially made a decision regarding the transfer of Tomahawk missiles but wanted to clarify their military purpose and intended targets.
• According to experts, the US could provide Ukraine with 20–50 missiles from its stock of 4,150 Tomahawks.
• Kremlin officials are reacting with threats.
• A Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko is already in the US for talks on air defense, energy, sanctions, and pressure on Russia.

What we know about the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting preceded by phone calls

The Financial Times was the first to report on the upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in Washington. Later, an RBC-Ukraine source also confirmed the information.

According to the source, the visit was agreed upon during the leaders’ latest phone call.

On October 11 and 12, Zelenskyy and Trump held phone talks, discussing, among other things, the possible transfer of US long-range Tomahawk missiles. The Ukrainian president called the discussions productive.

Among the topics was also the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense amid constant Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. The RBC-Ukraine source confirmed that Trump and Zelenskyy have recently discussed important and sensitive issues, including weapons, air defense, and diplomacy.

Yesterday, Trump confirmed that he could receive Zelenskyy in Washington on October 18. He said this to reporters aboard his Air Force One plane when asked about a White House meeting.

Zelenskyy also stated that he plans to visit the US this week and meet with Trump in Washington.

According to Axios, the meeting will focus on the type of weapons Ukraine needs to counter Russian aggression. Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in the US on Thursday, October 16.

Main topic – Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine

Axios adds that the meeting between the presidents will focus on whether the US should provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles.

“There are certain issues that cannot be discussed over the phone,” a source told the outlet.

Trump earlier said that he had “to some extent” made a decision regarding the transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He added that he “doesn’t want escalation” and would like to know exactly how and where the missiles would be used before making a final decision.

“I might have to speak to Russia, to be honest, about the Tomahawks. Do they want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so. I think I might speak to Russia about that, to be fair,” Trump said.

Zelenskyy, in an interview with the Republican Fox News, reminded that the difference between Ukraine and Russia is that Kyiv never attacks civilians. He promised to use the missiles only for military purposes.

According to the Financial Times, citing a Ukrainian official, Trump is now closer than ever to making a decision on the missiles, although final approval has not yet been given. The sources say Trump’s change in position is linked to his disappointment with Putin.

The outlet writes that the US has a total of 4,150 Tomahawk missiles. However, Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, told FT that Washington could provide Ukraine with between 20 and 50 Tomahawk missiles, which, in her opinion, would not significantly change the dynamics of the war.

Photo: High-precision American Tomahawk cruise missiles can hit targets at distances up to 2,500 km and were previously requested by Ukraine from its international partners (Getty Images)

Russia fears Trump’s possible positive decision on Tomahawks

In an address on October 12, after his second conversation with Trump in two days, the president of Ukraine said that the Kremlin’s fear of Tomahawk missiles could become a factor that brings peace closer.

“We see and hear that Russia fears the Americans may give us Tomahawks. This is a signal that such pressure could work for peace,” the head of state said.

Russian president Vladimir Putin warned Washington that the transfer of these missiles would mean “a new stage of escalation,” since their use would allegedly be impossible without US military involvement.

However, he claimed that they “do not pose a serious threat to the country.” The Kremlin believes this “will not change the situation on the front line.”

Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev also reacted, calling Trump’s intentions “a bluff” that could nevertheless have dangerous consequences. This is not his first threat — back in the summer, after Trump’s ultimatum to the Kremlin on a peace deal, Medvedev warned of “the risk of war between Russia and the US.” That exchange ended with Trump ordering two nuclear submarines “to be deployed in appropriate regions.”

“Based on the highly provocative statements of Russian spokesperson Dmitry Medvedev, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump said at the time.

When Zelenskyy and Trump last met in person

Zelenskyy and Trump last met in late September during the UN General Assembly in New York. The Ukrainian leader then described the discussions as productive.

The sides discussed the situation at the front, the exchange of prisoners between Ukraine and Russia, sanctions against the aggressor, and energy security. The Ukrainian president supported Trump’s idea that European countries should stop buying Russian energy resources.

Photo: Zelenskyy and Trump last met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 23 (Getty Images)

At that time, Trump said that it was “too early” to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine and added that it would be right if NATO’s European members shot down Russian aircraft violating their airspace.

Ukrainian delegation is already in the US

On October 13, a Ukrainian delegation led by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, together with National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, left for talks in the United States.

According to the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, who is also part of the delegation, the agenda includes:

• Defense: strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and strike capabilities.
• Energy: improving resilience ahead of winter.
• Sanctions: increasing pressure on the aggressor.

“The ultimate goal remains unchanged: a sustainable and just peace for Ukraine through forcing Russia to end the war,” Yermak wrote.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US Olha Stefanishyna said that the visit will include several other important meetings with defense companies and, possibly, with senators and members of Congress. Meetings with energy companies are also planned.

“The main focus of the visit is air defense and our long-range capabilities aimed at exerting pressure on Russia for the sake of peace,” Stefanishyna noted.

She also pointed out that the IMF and World Bank annual financial week has started in Washington, in which the Ukrainian delegation will take part. Another component of the visit concerns deepening US-Ukraine cooperation in the field of security and strengthening pressure on the aggressor.

According to her, the delegation includes Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov, Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko, National Bank head Andrii Pyshnyi, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksii Soboliev, and Deputy Foreign Minister Serhii Kyslytsia.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the upcoming US visit, saying that the talks would cover air defense, energy, sanctions policy, negotiation track, and the issue of frozen Russian assets.

On October 13, Zelenskyy expressed hope that peace in the Middle East would become a step toward peace for Ukraine as well.

Trump, in turn, hinted that after the release of all Israeli hostages by Hamas and the conclusion of a peace deal in Gaza, his next goal would be to end the war in Ukraine.

Sources: RBC-Ukraine’s own sources, statements by Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US Olha Stefanishyna, as well as articles by Financial Times and Axios.