WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said Friday he is not yet ready to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, urging Kyiv and Moscow instead to “stop where they are” and end the war.

Zelensky said the two leaders discussed long-range missiles but agreed not to make announcements on the issue “because the United States does not want an escalation.”

Trump, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone a day earlier and plans to see him soon in Hungary, described the weapons as “a big deal” and suggested the US needed them for its own defense.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks,” he told reporters.

Zelensky had argued that striking Russian energy sites with the missiles would weaken Moscow’s war economy, while Trump emphasized his goal of reaching a ceasefire. “We have to stop where we are, he is right,” Zelensky said after the meeting.

Trump later posted on social media calling for both sides to halt the fighting and begin talks. He said his recent conversation with Putin was “very productive,” with teams from Washington and Moscow set to meet next week.

Asked about the risk of Putin “playing for time,” Trump replied, “I’ve been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out really well… I think he wants to make a deal.”

Zelensky also said he briefed European leaders after the meeting, emphasizing that Ukraine’s top priority is to protect lives and strengthen European security.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the discussions “productive” and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to provide humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.

Zelensky’s visit came amid renewed diplomatic activity, with Trump pursuing parallel peace efforts in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine. — Agencies