Zelensky presses Trump for Tomahawk missiles amid UN-side meeting

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly pressed former President Donald Trump to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, a move that would extend Kyiv’s reach toward Moscow and potentially influence negotiations over the war. The Telegraph, citing several sources, described the encounter as “massively positive.” Zelensky told Trump that the state-of-the-art weapons could compel Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table to discuss peace, according to the report.

In a later interview, Zelensky said Trump appeared open to the request, with the former president indicating that they would “work on it.” The Tomahawk missiles — with a range of up to about 1,500 miles and a 450-kilogram warhead — would markedly increase Ukraine’s long-range strike options, according to the notes accompanying the reporting.

The exchange comes as Zelensky publicly faulted Western allies for what he described as a weak response to recent Kremlin drone and jet incursions, telling Axios that NATO countries are “afraid” of Russia and that their responses have been insufficient. The remarks illustrate Kyiv’s ongoing push for more capable weapons and stronger sanctions or deterrence against Moscow’s actions.

Diplomatic figures described a parallel thread in Washington: some European partners were urged to interpret Trump’s apparent openness to the idea as a positive sign, with observers noting that the former president’s tone could influence allied calculations about how to support Ukraine. One source said the administration believed the president was “really angry” with Putin for ignoring efforts to end the war, and that Washington may be looking for ways to shift leverage in negotiations through long-range capabilities.

Security experts in Kyiv argue the request is logical and increasingly inevitable. Serhii Kuzan, head of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre and a former defence ministry adviser, said the logic is clear: if Russia possesses long-range cruise missiles, Ukraine must have comparable capabilities to strike targets at similar depths. Kuzan added that the question is less about feasibility and more about how quickly such transfers can be delivered, noting that Ukraine previously faced delays securing tanks and fighter aircraft and that all available weapons must be provided as soon as possible.

The discussion unfolds as Denmark reported drones being spotted near four airports — Aalborg, Esbjerg, Sonderborg and Skrydstrup — before the aircraft reportedly departed on their own. Police described the incidents as unusual and said they could prompt discussions among NATO and EU partners about potential responses, including Article 4 consultations. Deputy Prime Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Denmark would coordinate with NATO and the European Union on next steps. The episode follows similar drone activity in Poland and Romania and Russia’s repeated incursions into Estonia’s airspace, all of which have heightened tensions amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. In the broader discourse, Trump has urged NATO members to shoot down intruding Russian aircraft, while U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the incidents as provocative and reckless and warned London is ready to act. Zelensky, speaking to Axios’ Barak Ravid, criticized NATO members’ reactions as weak, arguing that Putin has sought to exploit such hesitancy to press forward with other states. When asked whether he believed Trump’s stance on shooting down drones and jets, Zelensky replied that all intruders should be tackled.

It remained unclear whether Washington would approve supplying Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. The article notes that Biden-era discussions previously raised concerns that long-range missiles could enable strikes on Moscow itself and risked escalating the conflict; however, Zelensky’s latest remarks indicate a shift toward seeking longer-range capabilities as part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to deter further Russian aggression.