WASHINGTON(National times)- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Trump at the White House on Friday (Oct 17) to appeal for Tomahawk missiles, but the US president\u2019s focus on his upcoming meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin raised doubts about new military support for Kyiv. Trump nodded when asked by reporters whether he could persuade Putin to end the war in Ukraine, saying before the meeting: \u201cThings are coming along pretty well.\u201d Zelenskyy, speaking alongside Trump, said efforts to secure a ceasefire had proved difficult. \u201cWe want this. Putin doesn\u2019t want it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UKRAINE PUSHES FOR MISSILES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At a lunch meeting attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and special envoy Steve Witkoff, Zelenskyy made a direct appeal for long-range Tomahawk missiles. \u201cWe don\u2019t have Tomahawks \u2014 that\u2019s why we need Tomahawks,\u201d Zelenskyy said. Trump replied: \u201cWe\u2019re going to be talking about Tomahawks. We\u2019d much rather have them not need Tomahawks.\u201d Portraying himself as a mediator, Trump added: \u201cI think President Zelenskyy wants it done, and I think President Putin wants it done. Now all they have to do is get along a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n CONCERNS OVER TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trump announced a new summit with Putin in Budapest following a two-hour phone call with the Russian leader on Thursday, describing it as \u201cproductive.\u201dThe Kremlin confirmed talks were planned but said the timing was still under discussion, suggesting the meeting might take place later than Trump\u2019s two-week timeframe. Trump\u2019s conciliatory tone toward Moscow has raised concerns in Europe that Washington could strike a deal favourable to Russia. Still, the US president insisted he remained focused on peace efforts, telling reporters he hoped to \u201cbring everyone together.\u201d Trump also complimented Zelenskyy\u2019s appearance, telling reporters: \u201cI think he looks beautiful in his jacket. It\u2019s actually very stylish. I like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n WAR SHOWS NO SIGN OF ENDING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n More than three and a half years after Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion, fighting has intensified despite diplomatic overtures. Russian President Putin claimed this month that Moscow\u2019s forces had seized about 5,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in 2025, while Ukraine said the latest Russian offensive had failed. Both sides have also escalated attacks on energy infrastructure, with Russian drones and jets straying into NATO territory. Zelenskyy warned that Putin was \u201cplaying for time,\u201d noting that Moscow resumed talks as soon as reports surfaced about potential US missile deliveries. \u201cWe can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,\u201d Zelenskyy wrote on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ANALYSTS WARN OF STALLING TACTICS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Analysts said Putin\u2019s outreach may be designed to delay US arms transfers. \u201cIt seems Putin\u2019s move is meant to thwart the potential transfer of Tomahawks to Ukraine \u2014 a stalling tactic,\u201d said Max Bergmann of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Mykola Bielieskov, a defence analyst at Ukraine\u2019s Come Back Alive organisation, said the missiles could help Ukraine put pressure on Russia\u2019s military industry but would not guarantee a breakthrough. \u201cIt\u2019s about constant pressure,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t expect Russia to crumble after one, two or three successful strikes \u2014 but it\u2019s about disrupting their military-industrial complex.\u201d WASHINGTON(National times)- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Trump at the White House on Friday (Oct 17) to appeal for Tomahawk missiles, but the US president\u2019s focus on his upcoming meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin raised doubts about new military support for Kyiv. Trump nodded when asked by reporters whether he could persuade […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":114117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n
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