Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, seeking approval for advanced Tomahawk missiles that could strike targets deep inside Russia.
The visit comes just a day after Trump’s phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which both leaders agreed to meet soon in Hungary. Trump described the conversation as “very productive” and said discussions would continue between US and Russian officials next week.
Zelensky said Moscow’s sudden interest in dialogue showed how seriously it takes the possibility of Ukraine receiving long-range missiles. While Trump initially signaled he was considering the request, he later said the US could not afford to “deplete” its missile stockpile.
The developments add complexity to Zelensky’s trip, as Trump attempts to maintain a delicate balance between supporting Ukraine and pursuing peace talks with Russia.
Meanwhile, Russia carried out one of its largest attacks of the year on Ukraine just hours before the Trump-Putin call, launching dozens of missiles and drones. Ukrainian officials said the strikes prove that Moscow is still focused on aggression, not peace.
As diplomatic maneuvers continue, Trump is expected to brief Zelensky on his recent discussion with Putin and outline the next steps in Washington’s approach to ending the war.