Trump and Zelenskyy White House meeting, all you need to know

Asked by reporters connected whether aliases not he believes Russia meddled erstwhile Putin held a telephone telephone pinch Trump connected Thursday to dissuade nan US president from suppling Kyiv pinch Tomahawk missiles, Zelenskyy said he believes “Russia is afraid” of these weapons and nan harm Ukraine tin inflict connected them if it possessed them.

"I deliberation that Russia is acrophobic astir Tomahawks, really afraid, because it is simply a beardown weapon,” said Zelenskyy. "They cognize what benignant of limb we person and they are acrophobic of nan operation (of Tomahawks) pinch what we have.”

”They understand what we tin do, that's why they do a batch of different steps, a batch of affirmative messages, not to our side, but because they are afraid."

The Ukrainian leader noted that his state needs these missiles, arsenic good arsenic different long-range options, arsenic portion of a “combination” to boost Kyiv's violative and protect capabilities, arsenic it continues to fend disconnected Russian attacks.

Zelenskyy says nan Tomahawk projectiles he needs are a portion to a analyzable puzzle needed to guarantee his troops connected nan frontlines tin proceed to protect nan country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He besides said connected nan value of information guarantees, which stay astatine nan apical of Kyiv’s priorities successful immoderate imaginable ceasefire and bid settlement, and underlined nan pivotal domiciled Washington plays successful guaranteeing his country’s semipermanent security.

He noted that nan US, being nan only state successful nonstop interaction pinch Russia, is nan only state that tin guarantee that Putin respects nan position of immoderate bid statement and frankincense should play nan domiciled of guarantor successful specified circumstance.

“I deliberation nan president (Trump) understands that,” he said.

Zelenskyy besides said astir nan upcoming Trump-Putin talks successful Hungary, announced by nan US president conscionable 1 time anterior to this meeting, will show whether nan Kremlin is sincere successful its expressed desire for peace.

He noted that for immoderate bid to materialise, fighting must extremity via an contiguous ceasefire, truthful that existent negotiations tin return spot to bring a resolute extremity to Moscow’s full-scale invasion, good into its 4th year.

“First we (Ukraine and Russia) request ceasefire, we request to beryllium and speak to understand wherever we are. That is nan astir important step,” said nan Ukrainian leader.

He again praised Trump and expressed dream that he tin replicate nan bid he was capable to agent successful Gaza successful his embattled Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy confirmed he held a telephone telephone pinch his European friends soon aft departing nan White House.

The Ukrainian leader, who arrived precocious to his property conference, said he said pinch leaders of nan Coalition of nan Willing, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and more, debriefing them connected his talks pinch Trump. 

Speaking to reporters extracurricular nan gates of nan White House, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to make a nationalist connection astir nan US’ proviso of long-range weapons to his country, pursuing his gathering pinch US President Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy said his furniture engaged successful agelong speech pinch Trump and his management connected nan Tomahawk missiles, but shared that nary breakthrough was made “for today”.

Zelenskyy says nan US is concerned that nan usage of Tomahawks whitethorn escalate tensions successful nan warfare pinch Russia and successful move inhibit ceasefire efforts, but says his US counterpart did not resolutely adjacent nan doorway connected nan waste of these missiles. 

The US and Ukrainian presidents, on pinch their respective cabinets person closed nan doors connected nan White House gathering room to clasp talks connected nan latest connected nan ground, Tomahawks and nan upcoming Trump-Putin gathering successful Hungary.

The backstage discussions, held complete lunch, travel aft much than an hour-long Questions and Answers convention successful which nan 2 leaders addressed members of nan press.

Zelenskyy is expected to clasp a property convention aft nan gathering and is improbable to beryllium joined by Trump, who’ll group disconnected to Palm Beach successful his first sojourn to his Mar-a-Lago property successful months. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, responding to Trump's faint dismissal of providing his state pinch Tomahawk, said Ukraine has drones to supply to nan United States successful speech for nan missiles Kyiv desires. 

The 2 presidents nevertheless acknowledged location could beryllium woody that is of use to some nan US and Ukraine.

“We would beryllium willing successful Ukrainian drones. We build our ain drones, but we besides bargain drones from others. And they make very bully drones," said nan US president.

Last month, Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will statesman exporting domestically produced weapons, U-turning connected a argumentation Kyiv adopted erstwhile they declared martial law, connected nan first time of Russia's incursion into Ukraine connected 24 February, 2022.

Ukrainian arms producers person been pestering Zelenskyy for months to assistance nan restrictions connected various weaponry, peculiarly drones, arsenic a measurement to make much money for nan embattled country's economy.

The Ukrainian leader said successful nan pre-meeting property briefing pinch Trump: "they (the US) tin person our thousands of drones. We tin activity together and fortify each other."

Trump did not uncover his thoughts connected nan premise of this trade-off, only stating that it will beryllium discussed further.

Trump was instantly questioned by reporters upon settling down successful nan White House’s gathering room connected his stance connected providing US-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, which Kyiv has sought for weeks arsenic they look to bolster their offence and penetrate deeper into Russian territory.

The US president, who anterior to nan gathering signalled that he whitethorn not beryllium keen to widen these missiles to Ukraine, appeared to propose that Tomahawks whitethorn beryllium disconnected nan array for Ukraine, for now.

Trump noted that these “powerful weapons” return weeks to nutrient and cannot easy beryllium replaced, adding that they are a captious portion of nan US’ violative arsenal.

He besides stressed that he needs to service his country’s interests and not waste immoderate of nan proviso his equipped forces maintain, arsenic to not inhibit their ain protect capabilities.

“I person an responsibility to make judge we are wholly stocked up arsenic a country,” said Trump. “You ne'er cognize erstwhile you’re going to request them,” he added.

In an optimistic turn, Trump said he believes nan existent momentum, sparked by his brokering of a ceasefire successful Gaza earlier this week, provides a unsocial opportunity to “end this point erstwhile and for all”.

“The warfare successful nan Middle East was acold much complicated. We sewage that 1 done, truthful I deliberation we person a very beardown chance of ending this 1 too.”

"Hopefully we'll beryllium capable to get nan warfare complete without reasoning astir Tomahawks,” Trump asserted. 

Trump praised Zelenskyy arsenic a “very beardown leader” arsenic he said to members of nan property successful a pre-meeting briefing astatine nan White House. He besides said Zelenskyy is simply a leader who has "endured a lot" passim nan people of almost four-years of sadistic war.

The US president said he is assured he tin bring an extremity to Russia’s warfare connected Ukraine successful nan adjacent future. 

Trump said of nan value of nonstop negotiations betwixt nan Ukrainian leader and his Russian counterpart to make meaningful advancement and extremity what he described arsenic a "bloodbath".

He said Zelenskyy and Putin person to find a measurement to activity pinch each other, suggesting that their existent narration is unproductive successful bid efforts.

"There is simply a batch of bad humor betwixt nan 2 presidents," Trump said.

Zelenskyy congratulated Trump connected nan Gaza ceasefire woody saying “the US president showed to nan world that he tin negociate nan ceasefire successful nan Middle East” adding that he hopes he tin execute it successful Ukraine too. 

The Ukrainian leader said location is now a momentum to extremity Russia’s hostilities connected his country.

He besides took purpose astatine Russia, saying nan Kremlin has not been achieving occurrence connected nan ground.

“They don’t person occurrence connected nan battlefield”.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán celebrated connected Friday his state playing big to nan upcoming talks betwixt US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The gathering was abruptly announced connected Thursday by Trump successful a station connected his ain societal media platform, Truth Social, aft what nan White House described arsenic a “highly productive” two-hour telephone telephone betwixt Trump and Putin.

The Hungarian gathering betwixt nan 2 presidents will attraction connected bridging gaps to find a breakthrough to bring Russia’s penetration of its neighbour Ukraine, good into its 4th year, to an end.

“Budapest is nan only suitable spot successful Europe for a USA–Russia bid summit,” wrote Orbán successful a station connected X.

“With long-standing pro-peace activity and trusted partnerships, we supply a reliable, secure, and politically unchangeable setting. There was nary different option. Simply put: they tin count connected us!”

The Hungarian premier successful different station besides took indirect purpose astatine Brussels, criticising its warfare agenda, which he says is hampering “real peace” efforts.

“If Europe wants existent peace, its warfare plans must beryllium scrapped and everything must beryllium recalibrated,” noted Orbán.

“Peace must beryllium achieved, and it must beryllium backed by strength. It’s clip for Europe to measurement onto nan way of communal sense!”

There is cautious optimism successful Ukraine complete Friday’s gathering betwixt Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump. Ukrainians are hoping that nan negotiations will consequence successful nan US strengthening its support for Kyiv.

But, group are besides worried that nan gathering maygo sideways, if Trump decides against trading nan highly-desired Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine - aliases - if he decides to intensify unit connected Kyiv alternatively than connected nan Kremlin. 

Ukrainian media outlets are broadcasting nan gathering unrecorded connected tv pinch nan biggest interest being if Putin was successful successful dissuading Trump from extending nan missiles to Ukraine during nan Thursday telephone call. 

But pursuing nan Gaza ceasefire woody brokered by nan US president, Ukrainians are hopeful that Trump will beryllium arsenic successful successful securing bid for them arsenic well. 

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived astatine nan White House wherever he’ll beryllium holding a closed-door gathering pinch his US counterpart.

Trump received Zelenskyy pinch a lukewarm handshake. The brace past posed for a little infinitesimal to onlooking reporters for photos earlier entering nan premises.

Since nan Alaska acme betwixt Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, nan US president has been losing patience pinch nan Kremlin’s reluctance to person nonstop talks pinch Kyiv.

The erstwhile United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker told Euronews earlier this week that Trump's impatience pinch Putin could punctual him to work together to supply Kyiv pinch Tomahawk missiles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "lied to Donald Trump" astir his intentions to put an extremity to Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine, Trump's erstwhile envoy for Ukraine negotiations told Euronews.

And this is why "it's rather imaginable that nan US will nonstop Tomahawks to Ukraine," Kurt Volker said. 

On 19 August, conscionable days aft Trump's gathering pinch Putin successful Alaska, nan US president hosted Volodymyr Zelenskyy and different EU leaders astatine nan White House.

Following that meeting, Trump said that he would put a meeting between Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Volker says this is what Putin promised Trump successful a telephone call.

"Trump is frustrated. Putin promised him he would discuss and meet pinch Zelenskyy. (Putin) did it erstwhile Trump was pinch European leaders successful nan White House. He went and made a telephone telephone to Putin who agreed successful that moment," said Volker.

Tomahawk missiles person been connected Ukraine’s wishlist for a agelong time. They would let Kyiv to onslaught Russian launching pads alternatively of being constricted to last-minute reactions and scrambling to intercept hundreds of incoming drones and missiles erstwhile they've already breached Ukrainian airspace.

Tomahawk missiles, a cardinal portion of nan US' aerial arsenal, person an operational scope of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometres and a powerful warhead weighing 400 to 450 kilograms. Currently, Ukraine relies connected Western-supplied missiles, specified arsenic Storm Shadow, which person a constricted scope of astir 250 kilometres, rendering them incapable of reaching heavy wrong Russian territory.

For thing beyond this, Kyiv is utilising its domestically produced drones and drone-like missiles, specified arsenic nan Palianytsia. Those besides travel pinch limitations successful their warhead payload, pinch each projectile restricted to astir 50-100 kilograms of explosives.

The US-based Institute for nan Study of War deliberation vessel (ISW) has assessed that location are astatine slightest 1,945 Russian subject accommodation wrong scope of nan 2,500-kilometre version Tomahawk and astatine slightest 1,655 wrong scope of nan smaller 1,600-kilometre variant.

“Ukraine apt tin importantly degrade Russia’s frontline battlefield capacity by targeting a susceptible subset of rear support areas that prolong and support Russia’s frontline operations,” nan ISW study said.

The European Commission cautiously welcomed nan announcement by US President Donald Trump to clasp talks pinch his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, successful Budapest successful nan coming 2 weeks to beforehand a imaginable extremity to nan warfare successful Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was speedy to state nan astonishment prime of Budapest to clasp nan gathering arsenic a vindication of his calls connected EU leaders to discuss pinch Moscow alternatively of confrontation arsenic nan full-scale penetration of Ukraine rages.

You tin publication much from Sandor Zsiros successful nan article below.

For Ukraine, what it takes to extremity nan warfare has ever been clear – a afloat withdrawal of Russian troops and restoration of nan country’s territorial integrity by regaining territories Russia claims arsenic its own, including nan Crimean Peninsula which was annexed successful 2014.

For Russia however, it’s a batch much complicated.

The Kremlin has antecedently outlined that it wants to clasp power of astir 116,000 quadrate kilometres – conscionable complete 19% of Ukraine – arsenic a superior starting constituent successful its agelong database of demands.

The area incorporates eastbound territory seized by Moscow, successful Donetsk and Luhansk, portion of Ukraine’s Donbas region. It besides includes afloat power of Crimea. Ukrainian officials and their European friends person antecedently stated that Ukraine’s separator cannot alteration arsenic portion of immoderate woody to extremity nan hostilities.

The Russian leader has besides listed a imperishable prohibition connected Ukraine’s rank to NATO arsenic an important information to extremity nan war. Moscow has antecedently asserted that nan warfare started aft Ukraine pursued rank of nan defence alliance.

Sources adjacent to Putin opportunity that is simply a reddish statement for nan Russian president, who has stated that Western militaries operating connected Ukrainian ungraded is simply a awesome information interest that he will ne'er accept.

Russia besides wants each Western sanctions imposed connected them by nan US and EU to beryllium lifted immediately. Sanctions person targeted everything from Russian textiles to its heavier-hitting industries, for illustration energy, causing tremendous strain connected nan country’s economy.

Trump has indicated that he is prepared to resume waste and acquisition pinch Russia, contingent connected a woody pinch Ukraine. The EU nevertheless has yet to remark connected its plans for dealing pinch Russia post-war. The bloc is still actively ramping up sanctions against nan Kremlin and are exploring nan legality of utilizing Russian assets stiff successful its territory to widen a statement of in installments to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy has routinely slammed Russia for its demands, saying they’re “not realistic” and accused Putin of intentionally prolonging nan war.

The Ukrainian leader stressed that his country’s afloat territory is non-negotiable, and maintains that Kyiv is free to make decisions for its information and interests astatine will, independent of Russia. 

Friday marks nan sixth gathering betwixt US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Trump’s return to nan White House successful January.

And while nan US president has precocious demonstrated much support for Ukraine, their erstwhile meetings did not ever spell arsenic planned. 

28 February 2025

The first gathering betwixt Trump and Zelenskyy quickly escalated into a full-blown shouting match, successful nan Oval Office, connected unrecorded TV. 

The discussion, meant to attraction connected US support for Ukraine and nan minerals agreement, quickly turned sour, arsenic US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of being "disrespectful" and "ungrateful".

Trump, who earlier opted to support quiet arsenic Vance addressed nan Ukrainian leader, later jumped successful aft Zelenskyy suggested that nan US excessively has a liking successful supporting Ukraine, stating that Washington will "feel Putin's influence" if it doesn't return decisive action to extremity him.

“You’re gambling pinch nan lives of millions of people," Trump snapped. “You're gambling pinch World War Three," he added.

Zelenskyy near nan White House aft nan heated spat, without a deal, aliases moreover a associated property convention pinch Trump - a White House contented aft meetings betwixt nan US president and overseas heads of states.

Trump besides ordered a impermanent region on the shipment of US subject assistance to Ukraine soon aft Zelenskyy's departure.

26 April 2025

The 2 leaders made amends during their gathering astatine nan Vatican connected nan sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral. 

A backstage 15-minute talk, organised by Vatican officials conscionable earlier nan work commenced successful St. Peter’s Basilica, was a important measurement towards reconciliation betwixt nan 2 leaders.

25 June 2025

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy met connected nan sidelines of nan NATO acme successful The Hague, wherever Trump formalised his strategy of expanding nan subject load connected European friends by pushing for a important raise successful nan alliance's compulsory defence spending commitments.

Trump was capable to make each personnel states, pinch nan objection of Spain, perpetrate to a caller target of 5 percent of GDP by 2035, up from erstwhile targets of 2 percent.

The US president besides pushed for greater European work towards Ukraine's subject needs.

18 August 2025

Just 3 days aft nan Alaskan acme pinch Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump convened a gathering pinch Zelenskyy and respective European leaders successful nan White House.

The meeting, mostly seen arsenic a negotiated effort led by Trump, intended to research nan anticipation of nonstop bid talks pinch Russia. Trump noted antecedently pursuing his gathering pinch Putin that he wants to clasp a trilateral acme and prosecute nan warring presidents successful nonstop dialogue.

23 September 2025

Zelenskyy met Trump for nan sixth clip this twelvemonth connected nan sidelines of nan United Nations General Assembly High-level Week successful New York past month. 

While specifications stay somewhat ambiguous, Trump has indicated imaginable US aerial support to European forces successful Ukraine nether a post-conflict framework.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived successful Washington connected Thursday up of his White House acme pinch Trump.

"Today, I americium having meetings pinch representatives of defense companies – producers of powerful weapons that tin decidedly fortify our protection," he said successful a station connected X.

"Tomorrow, a gathering pinch President Trump is scheduled – and we expect that nan momentum of curbing panic and warfare that succeeded successful nan Middle East will thief to extremity Russia’s warfare against Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy is wide expected to entreaty to Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles which would alteration Ukraine to onslaught subject targets deeper wrong Russia.

US President Donald Trump said connected Thursday nighttime that he would meet pinch Russia's President Vladimir Putin successful Hungary to effort to resoluteness nan warfare successful Ukraine, but a day has yet to beryllium determined.

Trump said pinch Putin by telephone connected Thursday arsenic he considers Ukraine's push for long-range missiles.

That telephone came up of Trump’s gathering astatine nan White House pinch Zelenskyy, who has been pressing nan US president to waste Kyiv Tomahawk missiles that would let Ukrainian forces to onslaught deeper into Russian territory.

You tin publication much astir that successful nan article below.

The location of nan upcoming gathering betwixt Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has a profoundly symbolic meaning for Ukraine, arsenic it brings backmost nan memories of nan 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

In December 1994, leaders of nan US, nan UK and Russia met successful Budapest to promise information assurances to Ukraine successful relationship pinch its accession to nan Treaty connected nan Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) arsenic a non-nuclear state. 

Ukraine agreed to relinquish its atomic arsenal — past nan third-largest successful nan world — which it inherited from nan Soviet Union and to transportation each of nan immoderate 1,900 atomic warheads to Russia for dismantling. 

But 20 years later successful 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, illegally annexing nan Crimean Peninsula and occupying ample territories successful nan eastbound of nan state earlier starting its full-scale penetration successful February 2022. 

Many still reason that Russia wouldn't person attacked nan state if Ukraine still had atomic weapons. 

Last year, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told nan European Council that isolated from joining NATO, Ukraine's only option for defence would beryllium atomic weapons. 

"Who gave up atomic weapons? All of them? Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said successful October. 

He past had to explain and reassure partners that Ukraine has ne'er discussed preparing to nutrient immoderate atomic weapons aliases to build a atomic bomb.

Here's a look astatine really Friday’s gathering betwixt Trump and Zelenskyy is expected to play out.

1900CET - Trump will shake hands Zelenskyy astatine nan White House

1915CET - Bilateral gathering successful nan Oval Office

2100CET - Trump departs nan White House en way to Palm Beach

2100CET - Zelenskyy expected to clasp solo property conference

There seems to beryllium conflicting accounts complete whether aliases not Trump and Zelenskyy will clasp an Oval Office meeting. We're proceeding that nary gathering will return spot and alternatively nan 2 leaders will clasp only a bilateral lunch.

We besides person nary accusation connected whether aliases not Trump and Zelenskyy will clasp a associated property convention aft their talks.

After nan talks, Trump is scheduled to depart nan White House and caput to his backstage residence successful Palm Beach, Florida.