U.S. President Donald Trump recently shared new details about a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which took place just a day before his scheduled meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
According to Trump, the discussion centered around a potential U.S.-Ukraine arms deal, specifically the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles. During a press conference, Trump admitted that Putin tried to persuade him not to go through with the sale.
“Of course, he tried to talk me out of it,” Trump said with a laugh. “What do you expect him to say? ‘Sure, sell thousands of Tomahawks to Ukraine?’ I even joked and asked him, ‘Would you mind if I gave a couple thousand Tomahawks to your opposition?’ He didn’t like that idea at all.”
The Kremlin confirmed the call, stating that the discussion was “substantive” and initiated at Putin’s request. Reports also suggested that First Lady Melania Trump maintains an open communication channel with the Russian leader, further fueling curiosity about U.S.-Russia ties under Trump’s administration.
Following the call, Trump described the exchange as “very productive” and announced plans to meet Putin soon in Hungary to discuss potential paths toward ending the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky is expected to urge Trump to approve the sale of long-range Tomahawk missiles to bolster Ukraine’s ongoing defense efforts. The Ukrainian army has continued its strategic strikes on Russian oil refineries and military installations, aiming to weaken Moscow’s energy-based economy.
However, defense experts have raised concerns about Ukraine’s capacity to operate such weapons. The Tomahawk missile, roughly 20 feet long, typically requires advanced naval platforms, which Ukraine currently lacks.
Adding to the complexity, the U.S. stockpile of Tomahawks has reportedly decreased after multiple operations in Yemen targeting Houthi militants. The Pentagon has since directed defense contractors to increase production amid growing concerns over a potential confrontation with China, whose military ambitions have been expanding rapidly.
As Trump prepares to host Zelensky and later meet with Putin, global attention remains fixed on how these high-stakes talks could reshape the Ukraine-Russia conflict and influence future U.S. foreign policy decisions.
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