Zelenskyy Signals Long-Range Missiles as Key to Halting Putin’s Advances
WASHINGTON D.C. - Following a meeting with U.S. President donald Trump on December 22, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed his continued pursuit of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, framing them as critical to Ukraine‘s defense against Russian aggression. While Trump did not offer a definitive commitment, Zelenskyy noted the U.S.President did not dismiss the request outright.
The appeal for advanced weaponry comes amid heightened concern over renewed Russian efforts to undermine Western support for Ukraine.Just prior to Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington, Russian President vladimir Putin initiated contact with Trump, a move analysts suggest is a calculated attempt to disrupt potential arms deliveries and fracture transatlantic unity. The stakes are high as Ukraine continues to seek the means to effectively counter Russia‘s military operations and defend its sovereignty.
Zelenskyy, speaking on NBC’s ”Meet the Press with Kristen Welker,” stated, ”Our teams are working on this issue.” He further explained, “It was good that President trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but he didn’t say ‘yes’ today either.” Zelenskyy declined to elaborate on the specifics of the discussions, but reiterated the urgent need for long-range capabilities to bolster Ukraine’s defensive posture.
according to a report by Kyiv Independent, the timing of Putin’s call to Trump - occurring the day before Zelenskyy’s arrival in Washington – is not coincidental. Oleksandr Merezhko,a member of Zelenskyy’s political party,asserted that Putin’s move was prompted by Trump’s previous indications of support for providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles. “Putin got scared because Trump promised to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, and decided to pretend he is ready for ‘agreement’ and compromise,” Merezhko said.
Merezhko characterized this as a recurring pattern, adding, “Every time President Trump gets closer to imposing serious sanctions on Russia or transferring advanced weaponry to Ukraine, Putin tries to involve Trump in ‘negotiations.'” The outcome of Zelenskyy’s request for Tomahawk missiles remains uncertain, but the situation underscores the ongoing geopolitical maneuvering surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
