Trump and Zelenskyy White House meeting, all you need to know

Asked by reporters on whether or not he believes Russia meddled when Putin held a phone call with Trump on Thursday to dissuade the US president from suppling Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles, Zelenskyy said he believes “Russia is afraid” of these weapons and the damage Ukraine can inflict on them if it possessed them.

"I think that Russia is afraid about Tomahawks, really afraid, because it is a strong weapon,” said Zelenskyy. "They know what kind of weapon we have and they are afraid of the combination (of Tomahawks) with what we have.”

”They understand what we can do, that's why they do a lot of different steps, a lot of positive messages, not to our side, but because they are afraid."

The Ukrainian leader noted that his country needs these missiles, as well as other long-range options, as part of a “combination” to boost Kyiv's offensive and defensive capabilities, as it continues to fend off Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy says the Tomahawk projectiles he needs are a piece to a complex puzzle needed to ensure his troops on the frontlines can continue to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also spoke on the importance of security guarantees, which remain at the top of Kyiv’s priorities in any potential ceasefire and peace settlement, and underlined the pivotal role Washington plays in guaranteeing his country’s long-term security.

He noted that the US, being the only ally in direct contact with Russia, is the only country that can ensure that Putin respects the terms of any peace agreement and thus should play the role of guarantor in such circumstance.

“I think the president (Trump) understands that,” he said.

Zelenskyy also spoke about the upcoming Trump-Putin talks in Hungary, announced by the US president just one day prior to this meeting, will show whether the Kremlin is sincere in its expressed desire for peace.

He noted that for any peace to materialise, fighting must stop via an immediate ceasefire, so that real negotiations can take place to bring a resolute end to Moscow’s full-scale invasion, well into its fourth year.

“First we (Ukraine and Russia) need ceasefire, we need to sit and speak to understand where we are. That is the most important step,” said the Ukrainian leader.

He again praised Trump and expressed hope that he can replicate the peace he was able to broker in Gaza in his embattled Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy confirmed he held a phone call with his European allies shortly after departing the White House.

The Ukrainian leader, who arrived late to his press conference, said he spoke with leaders of the Coalition of the Willing, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and more, debriefing them on his talks with Trump. 

Speaking to reporters outside the gates of the White House, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to make a public statement about the US’ provision of long-range weapons to his country, following his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy said his cabinet engaged in long dialogue with Trump and his administration on the Tomahawk missiles, but shared that no breakthrough was made “for today”.

Zelenskyy says the US is concerned that the use of Tomahawks may escalate tensions in the war with Russia and in turn hinder ceasefire efforts, but says his US counterpart did not resolutely close the door on the sale of these missiles. 

The Ukrainian President was seen departing the White House a few moments ago, entering a black van, where he’ll be driven off the premises to deliver a solo press conference. 

The US and Ukrainian presidents, along with their respective cabinets have closed the doors on the White House meeting room to hold talks on the latest on the ground, Tomahawks and the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting in Hungary.

The private discussions, held over lunch, come after more than an hour-long Questions and Answers session in which the two leaders addressed members of the press.

Zelenskyy is expected to hold a press conference after the meeting and is unlikely to be joined by Trump, who’ll set off to Palm Beach in his first visit to his Mar-a-Lago estate in months. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, responding to Trump's faint dismissal of providing his country with Tomahawk, said Ukraine has drones to provide to the United States in exchange for the missiles Kyiv desires. 

The two presidents however acknowledged there could be deal that is of benefit to both the US and Ukraine.

“We would be interested in Ukrainian drones. We build our own drones, but we also buy drones from others. And they make very good drones," said the US president.

Last month, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will begin exporting domestically produced weapons, U-turning on a policy Kyiv adopted when they declared martial law, on the first day of Russia's incursion into Ukraine on 24 February, 2022.

Ukrainian arms producers have been pestering Zelenskyy for months to lift the restrictions on various weaponry, particularly drones, as a way to generate more money for the embattled country's economy.

The Ukrainian leader said in the pre-meeting press briefing with Trump: "they (the US) can have our thousands of drones. We can work together and strengthen each other."

Trump did not reveal his thoughts on the premise of this trade-off, only stating that it will be discussed further.

Trump was immediately questioned by reporters upon settling down in the White House’s meeting room on his stance on providing US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which Kyiv has sought for weeks as they look to bolster their offence and penetrate deeper into Russian territory.

The US president, who prior to the meeting signalled that he may not be keen to extend these missiles to Ukraine, appeared to suggest that Tomahawks may be off the table for Ukraine, for now.

Trump noted that these “powerful weapons” take weeks to produce and cannot easily be replaced, adding that they are a critical part of the US’ offensive arsenal.

He also stressed that he needs to serve his country’s interests and not sell any of the supply his armed forces maintain, as to not hinder their own defensive capabilities.

“I have an obligation to make sure we are completely stocked up as a country,” said Trump. “You never know when you’re going to need them,” he added.

In an optimistic turn, Trump said he believes the current momentum, sparked by his brokering of a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this week, provides a unique opportunity to “end this thing once and for all”.

“The war in the Middle East was far more complicated. We got that one done, so I think we have a very strong chance of ending this one too.”

"Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks,” Trump asserted. 

Trump praised Zelenskyy as a “very strong leader” as he spoke to members of the press in a pre-meeting briefing at the White House. He also said Zelenskyy is a leader who has "endured a lot" throughout the course of almost four-years of brutal war.

The US president said he is confident he can bring an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine in the near future. 

Trump spoke of the importance of direct negotiations between the Ukrainian leader and his Russian counterpart to make meaningful progress and end what he described as a "bloodbath".

He said Zelenskyy and Putin have to find a way to work with each other, suggesting that their current relationship is unproductive in peace efforts.

"There is a lot of bad blood between the two presidents," Trump said.

Zelenskyy congratulated Trump on the Gaza ceasefire deal saying “the US president showed to the world that he can manage the ceasefire in the Middle East” adding that he hopes he can achieve it in Ukraine too. 

The Ukrainian leader said there is now a momentum to end Russia’s hostilities on his country.

He also took aim at Russia, saying the Kremlin has not been achieving success on the ground.

“They don’t have success on the battlefield”.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán celebrated on Friday his country playing host to the upcoming talks between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The meeting was abruptly announced on Thursday by Trump in a post on his own social media platform, Truth Social, after what the White House described as a “highly productive” two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin.

The Hungarian meeting between the two presidents will focus on bridging gaps to find a breakthrough to bring Russia’s invasion of its neighbour Ukraine, well into its fourth year, to an end.

“Budapest is the only suitable place in Europe for a USA–Russia peace summit,” wrote Orbán in a post on X.

“With long-standing pro-peace leadership and trusted partnerships, we provide a reliable, secure, and politically stable setting. There was no other option. Simply put: they can count on us!”

The Hungarian premier in another post also took indirect aim at Brussels, criticising its war agenda, which he says is hampering “real peace” efforts.

“If Europe wants real peace, its war plans must be scrapped and everything must be recalibrated,” noted Orbán.

“Peace must be achieved, and it must be backed by strength. It’s time for Europe to step onto the path of common sense!”

There is cautious optimism in Ukraine over Friday’s meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. Ukrainians are hoping that the negotiations will result in the US strengthening its support for Kyiv.

But, people are also worried that the meeting maygo sideways, if Trump decides against selling the highly-desired Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine - or - if he decides to intensify pressure on Kyiv rather than on the Kremlin. 

Ukrainian media outlets are broadcasting the meeting live on television with the biggest concern being if Putin was successful in dissuading Trump from extending the missiles to Ukraine during the Thursday phone call. 

But following the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by the US president, Ukrainians are hopeful that Trump will be equally successful in securing peace for them as well. 

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived at the White House where he’ll be holding a closed-door meeting with his US counterpart.

Trump received Zelenskyy with a warm handshake. The pair then posed for a brief moment to onlooking reporters for photos before entering the premises.

Since the Alaska summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the US president has been losing patience with the Kremlin’s reluctance to have direct talks with Kyiv.

The former United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker told Euronews earlier this week that Trump's impatience with Putin could prompt him to agree to provide Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "lied to Donald Trump" about his intentions to put an end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Trump's former envoy for Ukraine negotiations told Euronews.

And this is why "it's quite possible that the US will send Tomahawks to Ukraine," Kurt Volker said. 

On 19 August, just days after Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska, the US president hosted Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other EU leaders at the White House.

Following that meeting, Trump said that he would arrange a meeting between Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Volker says this is what Putin promised Trump in a phone call.

"Trump is frustrated. Putin promised him he would negotiate and meet with Zelenskyy. (Putin) did it when Trump was with European leaders in the White House. He went and made a phone call to Putin who agreed in that moment," said Volker.

‘Putin lied to Trump,’ former US envoy to Ukraine says

In an interview with Euronews, the former United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker said Trump’s impatience with Putin could pr…

Tomahawk missiles have been on Ukraine’s wishlist for a long time. They would allow Kyiv to strike Russian launching pads instead of being limited to last-minute reactions and scrambling to intercept hundreds of incoming drones and missiles once they've already breached Ukrainian airspace.

Tomahawk missiles, a key part of the US' aerial arsenal, have an operational range of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometres and a powerful warhead weighing 400 to 450 kilograms. Currently, Ukraine relies on Western-supplied missiles, such as Storm Shadow, which have a limited range of about 250 kilometres, rendering them incapable of reaching deep inside Russian territory.

For anything beyond this, Kyiv is utilising its domestically produced drones and drone-like missiles, such as the Palianytsia. Those also come with limitations in their warhead payload, with each projectile restricted to around 50-100 kilograms of explosives.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War think tank (ISW) has assessed that there are at least 1,945 Russian military facilities within range of the 2,500-kilometre variant Tomahawk and at least 1,655 within range of the smaller 1,600-kilometre variant.

“Ukraine likely can significantly degrade Russia’s frontline battlefield performance by targeting a vulnerable subset of rear support areas that sustain and support Russia’s frontline operations,” the ISW analysis said.

Tomahawks for Ukraine: Game changing weapon or leverage over Moscow?

Fresh off the Gaza ceasefire deal, Donald Trump is about to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the possibility of selling Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. B…

The European Commission cautiously welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump to hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Budapest in the coming two weeks to advance a possible end to the war in Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was quick to declare the surprise choice of Budapest to hold the meeting as a vindication of his calls on EU leaders to negotiate with Moscow instead of confrontation as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine rages.

You can read more from Sandor Zsiros in the article below.

EU Commission cautiously welcomes Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest

A spokesperson for Ursula von der Leyen said any meeting toward a just peace is welcome but mainstream EU political parties and experts alike are divided on th…

For Ukraine, what it takes to end the war has always been clear – a full withdrawal of Russian troops and restoration of the country’s territorial integrity by regaining territories Russia claims as its own, including the Crimean Peninsula which was annexed in 2014.

For Russia however, it’s a lot more complicated.

The Kremlin has previously outlined that it wants to retain control of roughly 116,000 square kilometres – just over 19% of Ukraine – as a primary starting point in its long list of demands.

The area incorporates eastern territory seized by Moscow, in Donetsk and Luhansk, part of Ukraine’s Donbas region. It also includes full control of Crimea. Ukrainian officials and their European allies have previously stated that Ukraine’s border cannot change as part of any deal to end the hostilities.

The Russian leader has also listed a permanent ban on Ukraine’s membership to NATO as an important condition to end the war. Moscow has previously asserted that the war started after Ukraine pursued membership of the defence alliance.

Sources close to Putin say that is a red line for the Russian president, who has stated that Western militaries operating on Ukrainian soil is a major security concern that he will never accept.

Russia also wants all Western sanctions imposed on them by the US and EU to be lifted immediately. Sanctions have targeted everything from Russian textiles to its heavier-hitting industries, like energy, causing tremendous strain on the country’s economy.

Trump has indicated that he is prepared to resume trade with Russia, contingent on a deal with Ukraine. The EU however has yet to comment on its plans for dealing with Russia post-war. The bloc is still actively ramping up sanctions against the Kremlin and are exploring the legality of using Russian assets frozen in its territory to extend a line of credit to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has routinely slammed Russia for its demands, saying they’re “not realistic” and accused Putin of intentionally prolonging the war.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that his country’s full territory is non-negotiable, and maintains that Kyiv is free to make decisions for its security and interests at will, independent of Russia. 

Friday marks the sixth meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Trump’s return to the White House in January.

And while the US president has recently demonstrated more support for Ukraine, their previous meetings did not always go as planned. 

28 February 2025

The first meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy quickly escalated into a full-blown shouting match, in the Oval Office, on live TV. 

The discussion, meant to focus on US support for Ukraine and the minerals agreement, quickly turned sour, as US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful" and "ungrateful".

Trump, who earlier opted to keep quiet as Vance addressed the Ukrainian leader, later jumped in after Zelenskyy suggested that the US too has a stake in supporting Ukraine, stating that Washington will "feel Putin's influence" if it doesn't take decisive action to stop him.

“You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people," Trump snapped. “You're gambling with World War Three," he added.

Zelenskyy left the White House after the heated spat, without a deal, or even a joint press conference with Trump - a White House tradition after meetings between the US president and foreign heads of states.

Trump also ordered a temporary pause on the shipment of US military aid to Ukraine shortly after Zelenskyy's departure.

26 April 2025

The two leaders made amends during their meeting at the Vatican on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral. 

A private 15-minute talk, organised by Vatican officials just before the service commenced in St. Peter’s Basilica, was a significant step towards reconciliation between the two leaders.

25 June 2025

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, where Trump formalised his strategy of increasing the military burden on European allies by pushing for a substantial raise in the alliance's compulsory defence spending commitments.

Trump was able to make all member states, with the exception of Spain, commit to a new target of 5 percent of GDP by 2035, up from previous targets of 2 percent.

The US president also pushed for greater European responsibility towards Ukraine's military needs.

18 August 2025

Just three days after the Alaskan summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump convened a meeting with Zelenskyy and several European leaders in the White House.

The meeting, largely seen as a diplomatic effort led by Trump, intended to explore the possibility of direct peace talks with Russia. Trump noted previously following his meeting with Putin that he wants to hold a trilateral summit and engage the warring presidents in direct dialogue.

23 September 2025

Zelenskyy met Trump for the sixth time this year on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week in New York last month. 

While details remain somewhat ambiguous, Trump has indicated potential US air support to European forces in Ukraine under a post-conflict framework.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington on Thursday ahead of his White House summit with Trump.

"Today, I am having meetings with representatives of defense companies – producers of powerful weapons that can definitely strengthen our protection," he said in a post on X.

"Tomorrow, a meeting with President Trump is scheduled – and we expect that the momentum of curbing terror and war that succeeded in the Middle East will help to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy is widely expected to appeal to Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles which would enable Ukraine to strike military targets deeper inside Russia.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday night that he would meet with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Hungary to try to resolve the war in Ukraine, but a date has yet to be determined.

Trump spoke with Putin by phone on Thursday as he considers Ukraine's push for long-range missiles.

That call came ahead of Trump’s meeting at the White House with Zelenskyy, who has been pressing the US president to sell Kyiv Tomahawk missiles that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory.

You can read more about that in the article below.

Trump says he will meet Putin in Hungary in bid to resolve Ukraine war

With a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal holding in Gaza, Trump said he’s now turning his attention to bringing the war in Ukraine to an end.

The location of the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has a deeply symbolic meaning for Ukraine, as it brings back the memories of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

In December 1994, leaders of the US, the UK and Russia met in Budapest to pledge security assurances to Ukraine in connection with its accession to the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state. 

Ukraine agreed to relinquish its nuclear arsenal — then the third-largest in the world — which it inherited from the Soviet Union and to transfer all of the some 1,900 nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantling. 

But 20 years later in 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, illegally annexing the Crimean Peninsula and occupying large territories in the east of the country before starting its full-scale invasion in February 2022. 

Many still argue that Russia wouldn't have attacked the country if Ukraine still had nuclear weapons. 

Last year, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the European Council that apart from joining NATO, Ukraine's only option for defence would be nuclear weapons. 

"Who gave up nuclear weapons? All of them? Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said in October. 

He then had to clarify and reassure partners that Ukraine has never discussed preparing to produce any nuclear weapons or to build a nuclear bomb.

Does Ukraine really want to go nuclear?

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine is not pursuing nuclear weapons but stressed the need for NATO membership for security amidst Russian aggression.

Here's a look at how Friday’s meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy is expected to play out.

1900CET - Trump will greet Zelenskyy at the White House

1915CET - Bilateral meeting in the Oval Office

2100CET - Trump departs the White House en route to Palm Beach

2100CET - Zelenskyy expected to hold solo press conference

There seems to be conflicting accounts over whether or not Trump and Zelenskyy will hold an Oval Office meeting. We're hearing that no meeting will take place and instead the two leaders will hold only a bilateral lunch.

We also have no information on whether or not Trump and Zelenskyy will hold a joint press conference after their talks.

After the talks, Trump is scheduled to depart the White House and head to his private residence in Palm Beach, Florida.