Zelensky holds out hope Trump will still provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is once again appealing to the United States for advanced long-range weapons as the war with Russia stretches into its fourth year. This time, his focus is on securing Tomahawk cruise missiles a weapon system capable of striking targets hundreds of miles away.

During his recent visit to Washington, Zelenskyy met with Trump administration officials but left without a final agreement on the missile deal. Speaking on MSNBC’s Meet the Press, he said,

“It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, didn’t say ‘yes.’”

Zelenskyy described the talks as “productive” yet admitted that the issue remains “sensitive,” particularly for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added in an NBC News interview:

“I think that Putin is afraid the United States will deliver us Tomahawks. And I think he’s really afraid that we will use them.”

Reports suggest that the Kremlin arranged a last-minute call between Putin and Trump shortly before Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy, after news of the possible missile sale surfaced. Trump later told reporters that Putin “didn’t like the idea” of Washington providing Kyiv with long-range weapons.

Following his meeting with U.S. officials, Zelenskyy confirmed that both countries agreed not to discuss long-range missile plans publicly for the time being. Meanwhile, Trump announced that he and Putin are expected to meet soon in Hungary to discuss ending the war marking their first meeting since August in Alaska.

Ukraine’s renewed push for Tomahawks comes as Russian forces continue targeting Ukraine’s power grid and energy infrastructure, triggering widespread blackouts. In response, Ukraine has intensified its own strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities, with analysts estimating that Kyiv has already disabled about 17% of Russia’s oil production capacity.

The next few weeks may prove decisive for both Ukraine’s military strategy and U.S.-Russia relations, as Washington weighs whether to take another major step in supporting Kyiv’s defense.