Trump Backs Down On Tomahawk Missiles For Kyiv In Talks With Zelenskyy

Key Facts

Published: October 18, 2025 Location: Washington D.C. Source: Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy plus Worthy News observations

• President Trump backed away from a pledge to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, citing risks of escalation after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• During his White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump emphasized ending the war over expanding weapons shipments.
• Zelenskyy pushed for more military aid and proposed joint drone production in exchange for long-range missiles, but Trump remained cautious.
• The tone of the meeting was notably more cordial than previous encounters, signaling a possible shift in Washington’s Ukraine strategy amid war fatigue.

By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Some 24 hours after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald J. Trump appeared to back down on his pledge to provide Ukraine with powerful Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep inside Russia.

Trump showed his reluctance during talks Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, saying, “We’d much rather not need Tomahawks. We’d much rather get the war over. It could mean a big escalation. It could mean a lot of bad things could happen.”

The U.S. leader had suggested earlier this week that Washington could sell the missiles to Kyiv. However, following his Thursday night phone call with Putin, Trump signaled a more cautious approach, citing fears of further escalation.

TENSIONS OVER CEASEFIRE

Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin’s unwillingness to discuss American ceasefire proposals. His August summit with Putin in Alaska ended without a breakthrough, and plans are underway for another meeting between the two leaders in Hungary in the coming weeks.

Zelenskyy used Friday’s meeting to press for stronger U.S. military support, even offering to help produce more armed drones in exchange for the long-range missiles.

Yet Trump appeared unmoved, repeating that his focus was on ending the war rather than expanding weapons transfers.

SHIFT IN TONE

Unlike Zelenskyy’s previous visits, Friday’s discussions were held over lunch in the Cabinet Room, not the Oval Office. Reporters were briefly allowed in as the two leaders exchanged remarks.

Trump praised Zelenskyy as “a very strong leader” and “a man who has been through a lot,” adding that they “have gotten along really very well.”

The cordial tone contrasted with their tense February meeting, during which then-Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly accused Zelenskyy of lacking gratitude for U.S. aid.

Trump’s shift reflects a broader recalibration in Washington’s approach to the war: balancing pressure on Moscow with growing public and political fatigue over Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.

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