Zelensky to Washington to Discuss Delivery of Tomahawk Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky begins a visit to Washington today, Thursday, during which he is expected to hold talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump on Friday regarding the potential delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, according to a senior Ukrainian official who spoke to AFP.

The official, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that Zelensky will first meet with representatives of the U.S. defense industry to determine when supplies will actually be available, before the official meeting with Trump.

Relations between Washington and Kyiv have seen a significant improvement since February, following a tumultuous meeting between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence, after which the U.S. position shifted to a more robust support for Ukraine in exchange for pressure on Moscow.

Ukrainian officials who visited Washington this week also met with representatives of U.S. arms manufacturing companies, including Raytheon, the producer of Tomahawk missiles, to discuss when deliveries would begin, which requires an official political signal from the United States.

The official noted that the relationship between the two countries has become "more pragmatic," with Americans realizing that supporting Ukraine strengthens their strategic position and increases pressure on Russia.