Trump Urges Zelensky to ‘Make a Deal’ as Tomahawk Request Falls Flat

Former US President Donald Trump told Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to “make a deal” with Russia, signalling a major shift in tone as he downplayed Kyiv’s appeal for Tomahawk cruise missiles and renewed his push for a negotiated settlement to the war.

Trump, who only weeks earlier claimed that Ukraine could “take back all its territory,” appeared to soften his stance after confirming plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for a new summit in Budapest.

Following his meeting with Zelensky at the White House, Trump posted on social media:

“Our talks were very interesting and cordial, but I told him — as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin — that it is time to stop the killing and make a DEAL! They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory; let History decide!”

Speaking to reporters upon landing at his Florida estate, Trump reiterated that both sides should halt fighting immediately along current battle lines: “Go by the battle line wherever it is — or else it gets too complicated.”

Zelensky acknowledged that discussions over long-range Tomahawk missiles had taken place but admitted that no announcement was forthcoming.

“Russia is afraid of the Tomahawks — really afraid — because it’s a strong weapon,” Zelensky said, adding that he remained “realistic” about the chances of obtaining them.

The Ukrainian president explained that he and Trump agreed not to speak publicly about the issue, noting:“The United States doesn’t want escalation.”

Zelensky’s visit came after several weeks of lobbying for the missiles, which Ukraine believes could strike deep into Russian-held territory. The trip followed growing frustration in Washington over Moscow’s unwillingness to compromise after the Alaska summit between Trump and Putin failed to produce results.

Trump’s comments suggested that his focus has now turned from arming Ukraine to brokering peace. Hosting Zelensky at the White House, Trump told journalists: “Hopefully we’ll be able to get the war over with, without thinking about Tomahawks.”

He added that he believed Putin “wants to end the war”, signalling renewed optimism following his two-and-a-half-hour call with the Russian leader on Thursday.

Trump is reportedly hoping to replicate the success of his Gaza peace deal, signed last week, by orchestrating a similar diplomatic breakthrough in Eastern Europe.

Despite leaving Washington without the missiles he sought, Zelensky proposed an alternative trade-off.

“We would be ready to swap thousands of Ukrainian drones for Tomahawks,” he said, expressing hope that Trump could “achieve for Ukraine what he did for Gaza.”

The Ukrainian leader also congratulated Trump on the Gaza peace accord, describing it as a positive example of diplomatic success.

“I hope President Trump can manage it,” he added.

The Kremlin confirmed on Friday that “many questions” still needed resolution before the upcoming Budapest summit, including details of who will join each delegation. However, Moscow dismissed concerns that Putin’s international arrest warrant would impede his travel, with Hungary assuring it would facilitate a “successful meeting.”

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion — which began in February 2022 under the guise of a “special military operation” — remain stalled.

Since the start of his second term, Trump’s stance on Ukraine has fluctuated sharply. Early in his presidency, he and Putin appeared aligned as Trump criticised Zelensky as a “dictator without elections.”
By February, tensions peaked when Trump accused the Ukrainian president of “not having the cards” during a heated Oval Office exchange.

Yet, relations have since thawed, with Trump displaying increasing irritation towards Putin while maintaining direct communication.

“We get along,” Trump remarked recently, defending his continued dialogue with the Russian leader.

He has also repeatedly shifted his position on sanctions and aid, often after phone conversations with Putin.

While diplomatic rhetoric continues, fighting on the ground has intensified. On Friday, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that its forces had captured three villages in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions.

Moscow currently occupies around one-fifth of Ukraine, much of it devastated by prolonged warfare.

As Trump positions himself as a potential mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, his call to “stop where they are” reflects a pragmatic — yet controversial — attempt to freeze the conflict rather than resolve its core disputes.

For Zelensky, who continues to seek powerful Western weaponry, the meeting underscored a sobering reality: Washington’s priorities may now be shifting from victory to negotiation.