1st details of 'bad' meeting: Zelensky 'dejected' after White House visit as Trump sides with Putin?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faced a setback during his October 17 meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, as hopes for Tomahawk cruise missile support were reportedly dashed. According to White House sources cited by Axios, the meeting “was not easy” and “turned out badly,” with Trump taking a firm stance against supplying the long-range missiles to Ukraine for now. The meeting came after a lengthy, last-minute call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Putin warned that sending Tomahawks could harm U.S.-Russia relations. Following the call, Trump emphasized diplomacy over escalation, suggesting that the current ceasefire proposal could freeze front lines and help bring the war to an end. Zelensky later held a conference call with European leaders, who appeared puzzled by Trump’s apparent “change of heart.” The Ukrainian president described his outlook on Tomahawks as “realistic,” highlighting the ongoing tension between U.S. diplomacy, NATO support, and Moscow’s influence on the war in Ukraine.