Washington D.C. – The White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday was dramatically overshadowed by the news that President Trump had agreed to a new, in-person summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a development that came as an unwelcome surprise to Kyiv, according to an Axios report and other sources.
The shock announcement followed a “very productive” phone call between Trump and Putin on Thursday, which took place while President Zelenskyy was already en route to Washington. During the call, the two leaders agreed to meet in Budapest, Hungary, in the coming weeks to discuss the war in Ukraine.
The timing of the announcement has been characterized as a “curveball” for the Ukrainian President. Zelenskyy’s visit was intended to secure a new, critical level of military assistance, specifically permission for Ukraine to purchase long-range, U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, a weapon Kyiv believes is essential to pressuring Moscow into serious negotiations.
A Blow to Kyiv’s Hopes
Before the phone call was made public, the atmosphere in Kyiv had been cautiously optimistic, with recent weeks showing a perceived shift in President Trump’s tone toward Moscow, expressing frustration with Russia’s continuing bombardment of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
The news of the Budapest summit, however, has reignited fears in Kyiv and among European allies that the U.S. President may be swayed by Putin’s overtures and soften his resolve to provide Ukraine with the advanced weaponry it seeks.
President Trump confirmed the planned meeting with Putin, stating that the summit would take place “within two weeks or so.”
Zelenskyy’s Post-Arrival Stance
Upon arriving in Washington on Thursday evening, President Zelenskyy met with defense industry representatives before addressing the latest developments. While putting a brave face on the news, he suggested on social media that Russia was “rushing to renew dialogue” precisely because of the discussion surrounding the Tomahawk missiles, which could strike deep into Russian territory.
However, the question of whether President Trump will actually authorize the Tomahawk sale is now seen as being further in doubt. Trump himself raised questions about the logistics during his remarks on the Putin call, saying, “we need Tomahawks for the United States of America, too,” and noting that Putin “didn’t like it” when the subject was raised.
The upcoming meeting in Budapest, hosted by Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán—a Russia-friendly EU leader—is viewed by some analysts as a calculated move by the Kremlin to regain diplomatic initiative and undercut the momentum of President Zelenskyy’s plea for sophisticated American weaponry.
The war in Ukraine has entered its fourth year, and as temperatures drop, Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, making Kyiv’s request for enhanced air defenses and long-range capabilities a matter of critical urgency.
