Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of planting a question during their recent meeting about U.S. weapons support, as both leaders discussed possible ways to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump Accuses Zelenskyy of Planting Question at Meeting About Ending Russia-Ukraine War
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of planting a reporter’s question during their latest meeting about the Russia-Ukraine war.
The two leaders met on Friday, October 18, where Zelenskyy hoped to receive a clear answer from Trump on whether the United States would send more advanced weapons to help Ukraine fight against Russia.
However, the meeting didn’t go as Zelenskyy expected.
Zelenskyy was looking for Trump to confirm that the U.S. would provide Tomahawk cruise missiles—a powerful long-range weapon that could significantly change the situation on the battlefield.
But when a reporter asked Trump about supplying Tomahawks, the former president appeared to dodge the question and even hinted that the inquiry was staged.
Trump’s Surprising Reaction
When asked directly if the U.S. would give Ukraine Tomahawk missiles, Trump interrupted and asked which outlet the reporter represented. After learning the journalist was from Ukraine, Trump replied:
“We’re going to be talking about that, that’s why we’re here. Fair question—exactly as he told you to say it. But we’re gonna be talking about it.”
This unexpected comment led many to believe Trump was accusing Zelenskyy of planting the question to pressure him in public.
Trump Says He Wants to End the War Peacefully
Although Trump didn’t say no to sending Tomahawk missiles, he also didn’t say yes. He stressed that the U.S. must also protect its own defense needs.
“Tomahawks are a big deal. We don’t want to give away things we need to protect our country,” Trump said.
“Hopefully, we can end the war without even thinking about Tomahawks. I think we’re fairly close to that.”
Zelenskyy later noted that while Trump didn’t confirm the missile delivery, he also didn’t rule it out—leaving the door open for future support.
Zelenskyy Remains Hopeful
In a follow-up interview with NBC News, President Zelenskyy expressed optimism after the meeting. He said he understood Trump’s concerns that using Tomahawk missiles could be seen as an escalation of the conflict.
“It’s good that President Trump didn’t say ‘no,’ but for today, he didn’t say ‘yes’ either,” Zelenskyy said.
“I think President Putin is afraid that the United States will deliver us Tomahawks—and he’s really afraid that we might use them.”
Trump is also expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin soon, following what he described as a productive phone call about ending the war.
Key Takeaway
While Trump’s comments stirred some controversy, his remarks suggest that he is focused on finding a peaceful end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict rather than increasing military escalation. Zelenskyy, however, remains hopeful for stronger U.S. support as the war continues.