At Friday’s White House meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed Donald Trump to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles, arguing they would shift the war’s balance.

Trump responded with caution: while acknowledging Ukraine’s innovations in drone warfare, he repeatedly framed his goal as ending the conflict, not escalating it, and reserved judgment on missile deliveries.

Zelensky’s Strategic Push and Trump’s Calculus

In Washington, Zelensky argued that Tomahawks would let Ukraine hit deeper into Russian-held areas and pressure Moscow toward peace, proposing a trade of Ukraine’s advanced drones for missile support.

Trump praised Ukraine’s drone technology, saying “they make a very good drone,” but warned that supplying Tomahawks would be a serious move, stressing U.S. deterrence needs and the risk of escalation.

Military, Logistical, and Political Barriers

Even Ukraine’s supporters note that the U.S. has limited ground-based Tomahawk launchers, making large supplies to Kyiv difficult. The missiles, with a 1,550-mile range and low-altitude flight, could greatly expand Ukraine’s strike reach.

However, analysts stress they would not determine the war’s outcome. Providing them also carries high political risks, as Moscow would view it as a major escalation—concerns that explain Trump’s hesitation.The Shadow of the Budapest Summit