Trump bans Zelensky from accessing the Tomahawks: "It would be an escalation."

Yesterday, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy went to Washington to finalise an agreement on the supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. President Trump reiterated, however, that, at least for now, he does not intend to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Axios reports this, describing a face-to-face meeting marked by moments of coldness and ending abruptly with a laconic comment from Trump: "I think we're done. Let's see what happens next week," referring to the next meeting with Vladimir Putin scheduled in Budapest.

The meeting and the White House's position

During the meeting, Zelensky insisted on the need to receive long-range cruise missiles to strengthen defense and strike Russian logistics lines.Trump remained firm on his positions: "Giving them to Kiev would be an escalation. And besides, we need them too; they're needed for our defense."

In recent times, the Tycoon would have used the Tomahawk issue as leverage in relations with Putin. This would have allowed direct dialogue between the two to be reopened.

Kiev and Europe's reactions

Zelensky, described by Trump as "a strong leader who has been through a lot", he maintained a cautious tone. “I am a realist,” he declared at a press conference. He then added: “I think Russia is afraid of the Tomahawk, really afraid, because it is a powerful weapon.”

After the meeting, the Ukrainian president held talks with several European leaders. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has proposed working with the United States to develop a peace plan along the lines of the 20-point plan for Gaza., while the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has convened an extraordinary meeting of European national security advisers.

The commentary of the American press

Il Wall Street Journal, in an editorial, called on Trump to reconsider his decision"Let's give Ukraine Tomahawks, Mr. President." The newspaper emphasizes that fears of escalation with a nuclear power are no longer founded: “Putin has been launching ballistic missiles for years, responding is not an escalation, it's self-defense.”

According to the newspaper, Trump's other concern, namely the limited availability of American supplies, could be overcome. “The Tomahawks can help Kiev go on the offensive, and this will lead to a quicker peace.”, we read in the editorial.

The Budapest Summit

The confrontation between Trump and Putin, scheduled in the Hungarian capital in two weeks, represents a delicate stage. The choice of Budapest, a symbolic city of the 1994 Memorandum that was supposed to guarantee Ukraine's security in exchange for the renunciation of nuclear weapons, is considered by Kiev to be a diplomatic mockery.

Trump explained that he had I chose the location "because I like Orban" and ruled out a trilateral summit with Zelensky and Putin"There's too much hatred," he said. However, Trump reiterated his belief that the war can end soon, even without the Tomahawks.

European sources report that the European Union is considering using part of the €140 billion loan secured by frozen Russian assets to purchase American weapons for Kiev.

Zelensky, for his part, continues to ask for security guarantees and claims to be ready to negotiate in any format, bilateral or trilateral. Trump, instead, is pushing for an immediate ceasefire and a new regional security framework to be discussed with Putin in Budapest.

For now, however, the distance between Washington and Kiev remains wide. And the promise of The “quick peace” evoked by Trump still seems far off.