Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a potential exchange of Ukrainian-made drones for U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles during his visit to the White House for talks with President Donald Trump. Zelensky explained that while Ukraine has developed thousands of powerful combat drones, it lacks long-range missiles like the Tomahawk, which could help strengthen its defense capability amid the ongoing war with Russia.
During their meeting, Zelensky emphasized that both countries could benefit from the deal. “Ukraine has thousands of our production drones but we don’t have Tomahawks. That’s why we need Tomahawks… They (U.S.) can have our thousands of drones, that’s where we can work together,” he said, suggesting the trade as part of a broader military cooperation effort.
President Trump, however, appeared cautious about the idea, saying the U.S. needed to maintain its own missile reserves. Speaking at the start of a working lunch, he remarked, “Hopefully they won’t need it, hopefully we’ll be able to get the war over without thinking about Tomahawks,” adding that he has “an obligation to make sure that we’re completely stocked up as a country.” His comments indicated reluctance to transfer the long-range weapons at this stage.
On the issue of peace negotiations, Trump avoided giving a clear stance on whether Ukraine should cede territory to Russia to end the war. When asked, he replied, “You never know… war is very interesting. You never know with war, war and peace, but you never know.” This reflects his ongoing indecision, as he has previously shifted positions — first suggesting land swaps with Russia and later asserting Ukraine could reclaim all its territories.
Zelensky’s proposal marks a new phase in Kyiv’s military diplomacy, as Ukraine continues to seek stronger defense tools while offering its homegrown technology in return. Whether the U.S. agrees to the trade remains to be seen, but the discussion highlights the evolving nature of Ukraine’s partnership with Washington in the face of ongoing conflict.
