Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently made a significant visit to the White House, where he appealed to President Trump for the provision of long-range weapons to Ukraine. This request, if granted, could mark a pivotal escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The two leaders presented a united front, standing side by side with gentle smiles as a flurry of questions from journalists filled the air.

Reporters were eager to know whether Trump and Zelensky were ready to engage in negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and if they believed he would negotiate sincerely. There were also inquiries about the deployment of tomahawk missiles. However, these pressing questions remained unanswered. During a bilateral lunch, both leaders expressed a strong sense of cooperation. President Trump began by acknowledging a recent call with Putin and Zelensky, highlighting the endurance and progress made amidst the challenges. He remarked, “We’ve been with President Zelensky, who has faced much, and we’ve faced it alongside him. It’s been a lengthy journey, but we’re advancing significantly.”

Trump continued, “I believe things are progressing well. It all began back in Alaska during the previous administration, and now we’re looking to resolve this. Many lives have been lost in this conflict.” Zelensky followed with his remarks, commending Trump’s achievements in the Middle East and expressing optimism about the potential for peace in Europe. “I am certain, with your assistance, we can bring an end to this war. We observe their lack of success on the battlefield, and they appear weaker now,” Zelensky stated confidently.

But the high-stakes meeting comes just one day after Trump agreed to a second meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin – expected to take place in Hungary – with the White House playing up Putin’s flattery. ‘President Putin congratulated President Trump for solving the conflict in Israel and Gaza and bringing peace back to the Middle East,’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday.

Trump said that after the call, he was more convinced that Putin was ready to make peace. ‘It just seems to me that, you know, it’s how I feel,’ the president explained. ‘That’s all I’ve done in my whole life, I’ve made deals, I know about deals, I do it well.’ ‘I don’t think any president has ever ended a war, frankly,’ Trump also offered. In a post on X Thursday night, Zelensky made clear he was dubious that Putin was truly ready to come to the negotiating table.

‘Nothing has changed for Russia- it is still terrorizing life in Ukraine,’ Zelensky said. ‘Russia will be forced to stop the war once it is no longer able to continue it,’ the Ukrainian leader continued. ‘And Russia’s true readiness for peace lies not in words – Putin has never been short of those – but in actually ceasing the strikes and killings, and that’s precisely where he has a problem.’ Trump has been in contact with Putin throughout his second term – and met him face-to-face in August in Alaska – but the Russian leader hasn’t slowed down his assault on Ukrainian territory.

The president said he still viewed the Alaska meeting positively, though the US walked away with no concrete peace deal and Putin was able to herald the visit as his return to the world stage, after being turned into a pariah since the February 2022 invasion . ‘Well, I think Alaska actually set a stage and that wasn’t very long ago, but it set a stage,’ Trump said Thursday. Prior to this week’s call with Putin, Trump appeared to have grown frustrated with the Russian leader, often lamenting that he thought the Ukraine war would be the easiest to end – thanks to his good relationship with Putin – and instead it’s been the hardest.

Trump also credited first lady Melania Trump with opening his eyes to Russia’s consistent bombing and killing of civilians in the aftermath of friendly phone calls with Putin. Zelensky is expected to ask Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles for Kyiv, capabilities that might make Russia more eager for peace. Washington has been hesitant to provide Ukraine with long–range missiles, such as Tomahawks, out of concern that such a step could escalate the war and deepen tensions between the United States and Russia.

But Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday in Brussels that if Russia won’t budge from its objections and refuses to negotiate a peace deal, Washington ‘will take the steps necessary to impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression.’ The president revealed that he had teased giving Zelensky the Tomahawks to Putin on their call Thursday . ‘I did actually say, “Would you mind if I gave a couple of thousand tomahawks to your opposition?” I did say that to him. I said it just that way. He didn’t like the idea,’ Trump said. ‘You have to be a little lighthearted sometimes.’

Relations between Trump and Zelensky have warmed since their late February viral spat in the Oval Office in which the president told his Ukrainian counterpart: ‘ You don’t have the cards.’ But it appeared Trump might wait for his second in-person meeting with Putin before green-lighting the Tomahawks, which he called ‘vicious,’ ‘offensive’ and ‘incredibly destructive.’ The president said his second Putin summit would be hosted by his political ally, Hungarian President Victor Orban, and would happen soon.

Putin has yet to commit to sitting down with Zelensky face-to-face . ‘I mean, we have a problem. They don’t get along too well, those two, and it’s sometimes tough to have meetings,’ Trump said. ‘So we may do something where we’re separate, but separate but equal,’ the president floated. ‘This is a terrible relationship the two of them have,’ Trump said.