Volodymyr Zelensky suggested Ukraine could exchange drones for US Tomahawk missiles during his White House meeting with Donald Trump on Friday.
The Ukrainian president spoke during a press conference in the cabinet room as the leaders met for the second time this year at the White House, eight months after their disastrous encounter in February.
The tone was markedly different as Mr Trump praised Mr Zelensky for his “strength” as a leader – and choice of dress – before questions turned to the possible provision of long-range missiles, called into doubt in the wake of Mr Trump’s call with Vladimir Putin on Thursday.
Mr Trump insisted he would rather end the war and avoid having to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, but didn’t reject the idea outright. He also acknowledged the possibility he was being “played” by Mr Putin.
Later on, he acknowledged the impact American weapons have had in Ukraine’s defence, telling reporters: “I think that [Mr Putin] should have won the war in a week”, before outlining the value of US aid.
Mr Trump insisted throughout the gathering that he believed both Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky wanted to end the war, eyeing up the chance to end a “ninth” conflict during his presidency.
The US leader took a diplomatic tone throughout, telling reporters he thought both were “doing a great job” when asked whether Mr Putin or Mr Zelensky was doing a better job of negotiating.
He avoided a question on whether Ukraine could get back all of its territory, after suggesting it could earlier this year.
“You never know,” he said. “War is very interesting. You never know, do you?”
Mr Zelensky was careful not to ask too much of his counterpart, but did suggest that Ukraine could trade the coveted cruise missiles for Ukrainian drones when Mr Trump said he hoped to end the war without having to send Ukraine more weapons.
Mr Trump insisted that the US needs to take care of its own stockpiles, including Tomahawks, before sending them abroad.
Mr Zelensky, asking politely to interject, said there was an array of support in demand, and said he wanted to work with Mr Trump to both secure Ukraine’s needs and strengthen US production.
Mr Zelensky pointed out that Ukraine has “thousands” of highly advanced drones developed during the war and suggested that Ukraine could trade that home-grown technology in exchange for the Tomahawks.
Asked by a reporter whether he’d be interested in such a deal, Mr Trump replied: “We are – yeah, we would. We build our own drones, but we also buy drones from others, and they [Ukraine] make a very good drone.”
