Trump downplays Ukraine missiles after a contentious White House session with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signaling that his priority is a quick ceasefire rather than new long-range weapons. The key debate centered on Tomahawk cruise missiles: Zelenskyy argued they would unlock Ukrainian striking power; Trump argued the United States should keep those missiles in reserve as he pursues a deal with Vladimir Putin.

A pivot to “peace first”
Trump framed the meeting around stopping the war “at the battle line” and sending soldiers home. He cast himself as a broker and said both sides could “claim victory” if they freeze positions now. In public remarks, he urged an immediate halt to attacks and suggested that momentum should shift from weapons to negotiations.

Budapest calculus after a Putin call
Hours before meeting Zelenskyy, Trump spoke with Putin, then floated a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest within weeks. He hinted that Zelenskyy might not sit at the same table and could participate indirectly. The sequence matters: the Putin call appears to have cooled the mood on Tomahawks and shaped a strategy that puts talks ahead of new capabilities.

Zelenskyy’s ask vs. U.S. stockpile logic
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has thousands of drones ready and needs Tomahawks to strike Russian targets. Trump countered that he prefers to avoid escalation and to preserve U.S. stockpiles, saying, in effect, that Washington also needs those missiles. Trump downplays Ukraine missiles in part to retain bargaining chips before any sit-down with Putin and to avoid steps that Moscow claims would widen the war.

Signals from Washington and Moscow
Kremlin officials warned that Tomahawk transfers would damage relations without changing battlefield realities. In Washington, Vice President JD Vance cautioned that neither side seems ready for a final settlement, even as Trump projects confidence about near-term talks.

What to watch next
If Budapest happens, expect Trump to lean on leverage rather than deliveries, using the possibility of Tomahawks as pressure while pressing for a ceasefire along current lines. Zelenskyy will push to keep military options alive and to avoid any deal that locks in Russian gains. The balance between deterrence and diplomacy and whether Trump downplays Ukraine missiles again will shape the next phase.