Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, hoping to secure U.S.-made long-range Tomahawk missiles. These missiles would drastically increase Ukraine’s ability to launch missile assaults deep within Russian territory, and risk further escalating the ongoing war. However, Zelenskyy ultimately left the White House empty-handed.
During the meeting, Trump expressed concern that providing such weapons would lead to further escalation and argued that the United States needed to retain these missiles for its own defense. He later stated that Russia and Ukraine must “stop the war immediately,” even if Ukraine concedes territory. Trump went on to say, “Hopefully we can get this war over without needing Tomahawks.” Zelensky immediately replied, “We do not have Tomahawks; that is why we need Tomahawks.”
Around the same time as the meeting, Russia launched a missile strike on the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine. The strike killed seven people and wounded at least fifteen others. It came amid continuing Russian assaults across the country, along with growing political friction between Trump and Zelensky. Zaporizhzhia is home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, making any military strike there especially risky.
At this point in the conflict, Ukraine is no stranger to Western aid, having received billions in support, including HIMARS systems, Patriot air defenses, and long-range drones over the past three years. Despite this, Russia continues to push forward through the quagmire the war has become, recently claiming the village of Balahan in eastern Ukraine on October 14. Russian officials say their forces have seized nearly 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2025.
According to the RAND Corporation and the Atlantic Council, long-range strikes into Russia by Ukraine could expand the war geographically. Each new Western weapon system prompts Russia to counter with heavier armaments, heightening the risk of a catastrophic accident involving the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor. Escalation almost guarantees continued civilian casualties. According to a report from Reuters, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 12,300 civilians, including at least 650 children have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022.
Larson Zimmermann loves being outdoors and spending time in nature. He’s an avid reader with a strong interest in history and the stories that shaped America. Passionate about protecting state parks and preserving the environment, Larson also cares deeply about keeping American culture and traditions alive for future generations.
