Volodymyr Zelensky Meets Donald Trump Amid Plans for Putin Summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House this Friday, in what promises to be a tense and pivotal encounter.
The visit comes as Trump prepares to hold a fresh summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
Zelensky’s trip marks his third visit to Washington since Trump returned to office. Their past meetings have been turbulent, including a fiery televised argument in February and a more measured meeting in August.
The visit arrives at a time when Trump’s approach to the war in Ukraine appears unpredictable and shifting.
Trump’s announcement of a planned Budapest summit with Putin came just as Zelensky was preparing to land in Washington.
The US leader has framed the meeting as a new attempt to broker peace and end Russia’s invasion, which began in 2022.
Ukraine had hoped Zelensky’s visit would focus on increasing pressure on Moscow. A key priority was securing American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking deep within Russia.
Donald Trump would “love” to see Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. pic.twitter.com/DqlZFqwP5Q
— Geo Strategist (@GeoStrategistX) October 17, 2025
However, Trump appears focused on a broader diplomatic breakthrough, building on his recent success brokering a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump commented on Thursday: he had a “very productive” call with Putin and expected to meet him in Hungary within the next two weeks.
He also expressed a desire for “separate but equal” meetings with both Putin and Zelensky, though he offered no further details.
Arriving in Washington, Zelensky expressed hope that Trump’s Gaza achievement could influence the conflict in Ukraine.
“We expect that the momentum of curbing terror and war that succeeded in the Middle East will help to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” he said on X.
Zelensky also emphasised the impact of Tomahawk missiles in pressuring Moscow. “We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” he added.
He is also scheduled to meet with US defence companies to discuss additional air defence systems for Ukraine.
Trump Casts Doubt on Tomahawk Delivery
Despite Zelensky’s hopes, Trump expressed scepticism over whether Ukraine would receive the long-range missiles, which can travel up to 1,600 kilometres.
“We need them too, so I don’t know what we can do about that,” Trump told reporters, noting that giving the weapons to Ukraine could deplete US reserves.
Trump also revealed that Putin “didn’t like it” when the possibility of supplying Tomahawks was raised. The Kremlin announced preparations for a Budapest summit following what it described as an “extremely frank and trustful” phone call between the two leaders.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior aide to Putin, told journalists that delivering Tomahawks to Ukraine “would not change the situation on the battlefield” and could damage “prospects for peaceful resolution.”
Trump, Putin, and Zelensky
Trump’s relationship with both leaders has swung dramatically since his return to office. Initially showing eagerness to negotiate, Trump grew frustrated with Putin after a meeting in Alaska yielded no progress.
Zelensky, on the other hand, has steadily regained Trump’s support. Their August encounter was markedly different from the February Oval Office clash, with Zelensky appearing alongside Western leaders and dressed formally in a suit, a stark contrast to earlier mockery over his attire.
As Zelensky seeks advanced US weaponry and renewed backing, the world watches closely. The outcome of these meetings could shape the next phase of the war in Ukraine and the delicate balance of international diplomacy.
