Trump–Zelenskyy summit to address air defence, energy cooperation, and postwar strategy Tomahawk delivery on the table

US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on October 17, two sources familiar with the planning told Axios.

The meeting, confirmed by a White House official, is expected to centre on Ukraine’s defence needs and the potential supply of advanced weaponry, including long-range Tomahawk missiles.

The discussions are seen as pivotal, as the provision of Tomahawks—missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory—could mark a significant escalation in US military support for Kyiv. “There are certain issues that can’t be discussed on the phone,” one source told Axios, underlining the sensitivity of the planned talks.

Zelenskyy announced the upcoming visit in an October 13 post on X, writing that he would present “a series of steps that I intend to propose” to President Trump. He said a Ukrainian delegation had already departed for the US and noted that his visit would include “several other important meetings,” including discussions with American defence companies and possibly members of Congress. As Trump suggested, Zelenskyy added that he would also meet with energy firms, citing “pressing needs linked to various formats of attacks, not even the attacks that Russia has already carried out.”

The Ukrainian president said the central focus of his trip would be strengthening Ukraine’s air defence systems and expanding its long-range strike capabilities. His remarks came shortly after Trump revealed to reporters that he and Zelenskyy had spoken by phone over the weekend about possible US deliveries of Tomahawk missiles and additional Patriot air defence systems.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly argued that greater firepower would pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war. Trump, however, hinted that any such move would depend on his own diplomatic outreach to Moscow. 

“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so,” Trump told reporters. “I told that to President Zelenskyy, because Tomahawks are a new step of aggression. I might say, ‘Look, if this war is not gonna get settled, I may send them Tomahawks.’ Russia doesn’t need that. I think it is appropriate to bring that up.”

The potential delivery of Tomahawk missiles has already raised alarm in Moscow. The Kremlin said on October 12 that it was deeply concerned about the possibility, noting that certain versions of the missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Russian President Putin has previously warned that deploying such systems in Ukraine would necessitate direct involvement of US military personnel and would gravely damage relations between Washington and Moscow.

Zelenskyy is expected to arrive in the United States on October 16.

By Tamilla Hasanova