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Zelenskyy’s visit also comes just a day after Trump announced a surprise summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin
US President Donald Trump greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outside the West Wing of the White House on October 17. (AFP photo)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday arrived at the White House, where he was welcomed by US President Donald Trump. He is expected to press Trump for long-range Tomahawk missiles, which would allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia.
Trump greeted Zelenskyy outside the West Wing, shaking hands and briefly raising a fist. Neither leader responded to shouted questions from the press. During their meeting, Trump praised Zelenskyy as a strong leader who had endured a lot and said, “I think we’re making great progress.”
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Zelenskyy also told Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “not ready” for peace, while Trump said that Russia wanted to end the war.
The meeting took place just a day after Trump announced a surprise summit with Putin, casting doubt on whether the US will supply Ukraine with the powerful cruise missiles.
Ukraine has been pressing Washington for weeks to send Tomahawk missiles, arguing that they could help push Russia to end its invasion, which has lasted more than three and a half years. However, just a day before Zelenskyy’s visit, Putin had warned Trump that sending such weapons could escalate the conflict and harm peace talks.
The planned summit between Trump and Putin will be held in Budapest and is their first since a failed meeting in Alaska last August. Since then, diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy hoped this visit would increase pressure on Putin, especially by securing Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of more than 1,600 kilometres. However, Trump seems focused on pursuing a diplomatic solution following his recent Gaza ceasefire deal.
This is Zelenskyy’s third trip to Washington since Trump returned to office, during which the US president’s stance on Ukraine has shifted multiple times.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…
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First Published:
October 17, 2025, 23:13 IST
News world Trump Welcomes Zelenskyy In White House As Ukraine Pushes For US Missile Support
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