According to a report by Sky News on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of scrambling to reopen diplomatic channels with the United States following reports that Washington may supply Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles. His remarks came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation that has drawn international attention.
“Already in Washington,” Zelenskyy posted on social media early Friday, shortly before his scheduled meeting with Trump. The Ukrainian leader said he intended to use the talks to push for “strength and justice” in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and freedom.
In his sharp response to the Trump-Putin call, Zelenskyy described Putin as “no braver than Hamas or any other terrorist,” saying Russia’s recent gestures toward dialogue were driven by fear rather than diplomacy. “We can already see that Moscow is rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks,” he wrote, suggesting that the potential U.S. move to provide advanced long-range missiles had unnerved the Kremlin.
The exchange followed statements from Moscow indicating that Putin had warned Trump during their call that any U.S. decision to arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles would deal a serious blow to peace efforts and further strain U.S.-Russia relations. The Tomahawk, a long-range precision-guided missile used effectively in past U.S. military operations, is viewed by Moscow as a potential game-changer in the conflict.
For Kyiv, however, the prospect of receiving Tomahawks represents a critical step in strengthening Ukraine’s defenses and deterring further Russian aggression. Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on the U.S. and NATO allies to provide more advanced weaponry, arguing that only overwhelming firepower can force Moscow to consider genuine peace talks.
Despite Zelenskyy’s optimism, Trump appeared to temper his earlier stance later in the day. Speaking to reporters, the U.S. president said Putin “doesn’t want Tomahawks given to Ukraine,” describing them as a “vicious weapon.” See, More, Here>>>
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