Trump Tells Zelensky Tomahawks Would “Be an Escalation,” Floats Budapest Talks With Putin
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At the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a bilateral working lunch focused on weapons deliveries, security guarantees, and next steps in U.S. diplomacy with Russia. Trump said Kyiv’s request for Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike deep into Russia would represent “an escalation,” adding that he hopes the war can be ended “without Tomahawks.” Zelensky thanked Trump and called him a leader who “can finish this war,” while reiterating that strong security guarantees are essential for Ukrainians under daily attack. The Ukrainian leader said NATO remains “the best” option, but stressed that weapons and allies are crucial and that bilateral U.S.–Ukraine guarantees would be “very important.” Trump said he had a two-and-a-half-hour call with Vladimir Putin the previous day and plans to meet the Russian president in Budapest “within two weeks,” with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hosting. He signaled separate but parallel engagements with Zelensky and Putin, noting “a lot of bad blood” between the two leaders. Asked if Tomahawks were discussed with Moscow, Trump said Putin “didn’t like the idea,” calling the weapon “very dangerous” and warning of escalation.
Zelensky floated a drones-for-missiles trade, offering “thousands of Ukrainian-made drones” in exchange for U.S. long-range missiles aimed strictly at military targets. Trump replied that the United States both builds and buys drones, but emphasized America must stay “fully stocked” and that his priority is ending the war quickly. He praised Zelensky as a “very strong leader,” while asserting that Putin “wants to end the war” and that diplomacy now requires “flexibility.” On whether Ukraine could retake all occupied territory, Trump said, “You never know with war.” He reiterated that Tomahawks are precise but scarce, and that Washington must not “give away things we need to protect our country.” Trump also claimed momentum from a recent Middle East ceasefire, arguing that success there increases credibility for Europe diplomacy. He lauded U.S. airpower and described drones being countered by fast jets, while again insisting his aim is to “save lives” rather than prolong conflict. The session featured sharp exchanges with reporters, including questions on India and Hungary’s Russian oil imports, NATO burden-sharing, and China trade talks—issues Trump said his team would continue pursuing in parallel. Both presidents closed by expressing readiness to keep negotiating, with Trump framing the prospective Budapest meetings as a chance to “make history” if the sides “get along a little bit.”
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