Zelenskyy: Europe wants to talk to Trump about Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine and Europe are formulating a joint position with which to address the United States in various formats regarding the potential supply of Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Source: Zelenskyy at a press briefing, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine and European Pravda
Details: Zelenskyy said that US President Donald Trump is not going to send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine because he wants to avoid escalation with Russia ahead of his meeting with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
According to Zelenskyy, it was the issue of long-range missiles that prompted Putin to call Trump.
He emphasised that Ukraine is in constant communication with European leaders who want to approach Trump with a request regarding Tomahawk missiles, since European countries also have them.
Quote: "First of all, I would like to say that European countries also have Tomahawks. The issue is not just Tomahawks as such. The question is about how weapons are used. You can have ATACMS, but how can you use them? The question is not only what kind of weapons you have, but how you can use them."
More details: Zelenskyy noted that the use of these missiles would target military facilities and be coordinated with Ukraine's partners.
"We talked with European leaders immediately after the meeting with President Trump. They themselves want to approach him with a request," he stressed.
Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is in constant contact with the national security advisers of European countries and is building a common position with them.
He added that they would continue to approach the United States on this issue in various formats.
Background:
- On 17 October, Zelenskyy travelled to the White House to meet Trump following two consecutive phone conversations. The meeting was planned to discuss highly sensitive issues, including the possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
- The day before the meeting, Trump called Vladimir Putin. He said afterwards that Putin "did not like" the idea of Tomahawks being provided to Ukraine, adding that it "may not be perfect timing" to impose secondary sanctions on buyers of Russian energy.
- It was later reported that Trump had made it clear in a private conversation with the Ukrainian president that he is not yet considering supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
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