On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House as part of renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting initially took place in the presence of the press without any serious exchanges between the parties. The Hill outlines 5 key takeaways from the negotiations.
- Trump cooled Ukraine's enthusiasm regarding Tomahawks
Trump apparently rejected Ukraine's desire to acquire long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, stating that it is "not easy" for Washington to provide the munitions.
Military experts told The Hill this week that missiles capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and at low altitudes to evade radar would provide Ukraine with increased range and the ability to strike Russian military targets and continue hitting Kremlin energy facilities.
Later at a press conference after the meeting with Trump, Zelensky, commenting on the Tomahawks issue, stated that "this topic has not been canceled, we need to work on it more."
- Trump and Zelensky have different views on Putin's desire for peace.
Trump is optimistic about Russia ending the war in Ukraine, building on what he believes is momentum gained from ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
However, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a completely different perspective on Friday, pointing to Putin's refusal to cease fire despite Trump's demands, The Hill reports.
- Zelensky received a compliment about his wardrobe.
"I think he looks great in that jacket. He looks terrific. I hope people notice it. He is very stylish," the president said about Zelensky's outfit.
Previously, Zelensky faced criticism after he did not wear a jacket during his February visit to the White House.
- Trump criticized Spain for defense spending.
Trump criticized Spain for not committing to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, as allies agreed at the NATO summit in June.
"Spain has not been loyal to NATO. They are the only ones — everyone else raised that figure, as you know. So, you were at 2 percent, and they all raised it to 5 percent, but Spain did not agree to that," the president said. "I think Spain should be reprimanded for that."
- Trump lashed out at Maduro.
The most explosive moment of the meeting was not related to Ukraine but rather to the escalation of Trump's confrontation with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
"He wouldn't want to deal with the U.S.," Trump stated, abruptly ending the press conference.
"Trump's remarks provided a rare opportunity to see the president lose his composure. The last time he publicly lost his temper was during the infamous February spat with Zelensky in the Oval Office, which led to a brief rupture in U.S.-Ukraine relations," The Hill writes.
Although Zelensky managed to avoid Trump's wrath this time, the president's frustration with Maduro signals a potential escalation of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, the publication notes.
Meeting at the White House
CNN reports that the meeting between the two heads of state brought good news for Ukraine, although the real goal that Kyiv is striving for still seems unattainable.
First, Trump praised the deadly merits of the Tomahawks, the supply of which, he said, was the focus of his meeting with Zelensky. As the publication emphasizes, Trump's new approach may eventually bring the conclusion of an agreement closer.
Second, Trump is not afraid to acknowledge that Putin is playing him and will be wiser in his dealings with the Kremlin chief at the Budapest summit.
