Zelensky fails to secure US Tomahawks, stresses Trump 'does not want escalation'
During his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Trump did not rule out providing the long-range missiles to Kiev in the future
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky failed to secure a commitment from Washington to provide long-range Tomahawk missiles during a meeting on 17 October with US President Donald Trump.
Zelensky said after leaving the White House that he and Trump had discussed the Tomahawk issue but decided not to comment on it "because the United States does not want an escalation."
Zelensky asked for the long-range missiles to carry out strikes on Russian oil and energy facilities deep in Moscow's territory, hoping to weaken the Russian economy.
The Ukrainian leader suggested Kiev could provide the US military with drones in exchange for the missiles, which caused Trump to smile and nod.
Trump did not rule out providing Tomahawks to Ukraine in the future and said that discussions regarding them will continue.
"Hopefully they won't need it, hopefully we'll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks," he stated, calling providing the missiles a “big deal.”
"The threat of that [the missiles] is good, but the threat of that is always there," he added.
Trump met with Zelensky one day after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone.
During Thursday's call, Putin told Trump that supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would harm the negotiations to end the war and damage ties between Moscow and Washington, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.
When asked by reporters about Putin's comments, Trump confirmed Putin had opposed such a move.
"What do you think he's going to say, 'Please sell Tomahawks?'" Trump joked.
Trump claimed he had made "great progress" with Putin during the call and announced that the two leaders plan to meet in a summit in Hungary in the near future.
Overnight on Friday, Russia attacked multiple targets in Ukraine with three S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles and 164 attack drones, including Shaheds, Ukrainian media reported.
Russian forces also shelled 12 villages in the Kharkiv region over the past 24 hours.
"As a result of shelling in the village of Zeleny Hai… a 58-year-old man died, an 83-year-old woman was injured," Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov stated on his Telegram channel.
For its part, the Ukrainian military said it carried out a drone strike targeting an oil depot and industrial facility near the Russian Gvardeyskoye airbase in Crimea overnight Thursday.