Zelenskyy at White House: Sees ‘Big Chance’ for Trump to End Russia’s Ukraine War Amid Missile Talks
In a pivotal White House meeting on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy extended rare praise to U.S. President Donald Trump, declaring he has a “big chance” to finally halt Russia’s grinding invasion of Ukraine. The encounter, laced with optimism and high-stakes diplomacy, signals a potential turning point after nearly four years of brutal conflict.
Zelenskyy arrived in Washington fresh off a wave of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, underscoring the urgency of his plea for more U.S. support. During a working lunch in the Cabinet Room, flanked by top aides, the Ukrainian leader congratulated Trump on brokering last week’s Gaza ceasefire and hostage release. “President Trump now has momentum to stop the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” Zelenskyy said, adding, “President Trump now has a big chance to finish this war.” He emphasized that the Middle East success could translate into “big success for Ukraine” if Trump leverages his rapport with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The talks, which included brief remarks to reporters, centered on accelerating peace negotiations while addressing Ukraine’s immediate military needs. Zelenskyy proposed a bold exchange: Ukraine’s advanced drones for U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could strike deep into Russian territory and target key infrastructure. Trump, who spoke with Putin for two hours on Thursday, described the conversation as yielding “great progress” and announced plans for an in-person summit in Budapest soon. “We’re fairly close to that,” Trump said of ending the war without escalating arms shipments, though he reiterated concerns about depleting U.S. stockpiles. “We need Tomahawks for the United States, too,” he added, signaling hesitation despite earlier openness to the sale.
This marks the fourth in-person meeting between the two leaders since Trump’s return to office, a stark contrast to their tense February encounter where Trump publicly scolded Zelenskyy for lacking gratitude toward U.S. aid. Relations have thawed considerably, with a more cordial August summit and recent phone calls laying groundwork for today’s discussions. Zelenskyy arrived with diplomatic backing from European allies, including leaders from Germany, France, and the UK, who joined virtually to reinforce NATO’s commitment.
Background on the conflict reveals a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Recent escalations, including overnight drone and missile barrages on Ukrainian cities hours before Trump’s Putin call, highlight Moscow’s reluctance for peace. Ukrainian officials decried the strikes as proof of Putin’s true intentions, with Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova stating they “expose Moscow’s real attitude toward peace.” Zelenskyy, undeterred, reiterated his stance: “We want peace. Putin doesn’t want it. That’s why we need pressure on him.”
Expert opinions underscore the fragility of the moment. Mark Montgomery, a retired U.S. Rear Admiral and senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, praised Trump’s overtures but urged escalation if needed. “Trump has given Putin the chance to negotiate, but now it’s time to change the course of the war himself,” Montgomery said, advocating for more sanctions and the Tomahawk transfer. On the European front, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed Zelenskyy’s call for unity, warning that any concessions to Russia could embolden aggression elsewhere.
Public reactions in the U.S. are polarized, mirroring broader divisions on foreign policy. Social media buzzed with support from Ukraine advocates, who hailed Zelenskyy’s outreach as pragmatic diplomacy, while isolationists questioned further entanglement. Polls from earlier this year showed 55% of Americans favoring continued aid to Kyiv, but fatigue is growing amid domestic economic pressures. In Ukraine, citizens expressed cautious hope, with Kyiv residents telling local outlets they pray for Trump’s “deal-making magic” to prevail without territorial losses.
For American readers, the implications ripple across multiple fronts. Economically, the war has driven up global energy prices, contributing to inflation that hit U.S. households hard—gasoline costs rose 20% in 2022 alone due to disrupted supplies. A swift resolution could stabilize markets, potentially lowering bills by bolstering Ukraine’s role as a key grain exporter and easing NATO’s defense spending burdens on U.S. taxpayers, who have committed over $175 billion in aid since 2022.
Politically, the meeting tests Trump’s “America First” doctrine against alliance commitments, influencing midterm dynamics and future GOP platforms. Lifestyle impacts include heightened cybersecurity risks from Russian hackers targeting U.S. infrastructure, as seen in recent election interference attempts. Technologically, advancements in Ukrainian drones discussed today could spur U.S. innovations in defense tech, benefiting companies like Lockheed Martin. Even in sports, the war’s shadow looms over international events, with Ukrainian athletes like boxer Oleksandr Usyk inspiring resilience amid boycotts of Russian competitors.
As the dust settles from Friday’s strikes, Zelenskyy pushed for restoring Ukraine’s battered energy grid and inviting more American investment, posting photos of the handshake on X with a call for “American businesses in Ukraine.” Trump, ever the optimist, quipped to reporters, “So many people have died… We’re going to get it ended,” while noting the “bad blood” between Zelenskyy and Putin as the main barrier.
In summary, Zelenskyy’s bold endorsement of Trump’s potential to end the war injects fresh urgency into stalled talks, with the Budapest summit looming as a make-or-break moment. Future outlooks hinge on whether missile deals materialize or diplomacy alone suffices—either way, the path to peace appears closer, but far from guaranteed, demanding sustained international pressure to hold Putin accountable.
By Sam Michael
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