In a rare development, US President Donald Trump is reportedly speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just one day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to visit the White House. The conversation comes amid growing concerns in Moscow about the potential supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.
The talks follow a direct meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska earlier this August, which was initially seen as a possible step toward peace in Ukraine. However, despite high expectations and unprecedented media coverage, the Alaska summit did not produce any breakthroughs.
From Russia’s perspective, Trump is considered the only Western leader willing to address what Moscow describes as the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that Western allies have since tried to “lead Trump astray” by portraying Putin as unwilling to pursue peace.
Most Western observers, however, note that Putin’s confidence in the Alaska process quickly waned. By early September, Moscow had issued lukewarm offers, including a suggestion for Zelensky to travel to Moscow—an unlikely scenario for a leader whose country remains under full-scale invasion.
The current call occurs amid heightened tensions over the possible delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), potentially putting Moscow within striking distance from Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the missile discussion “a matter of extreme concern,” noting that Russia could not determine if such missiles might carry nuclear warheads.
Trump, when asked about the possibility of sending Tomahawks to Kyiv, said: “We’ll see… I may.” He described the weapons as “a new step of aggression” in the ongoing conflict.
This latest engagement comes ahead of Zelensky’s anticipated discussions in Washington, where he is expected to push for long-range missile support to strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russian forces. This marks Zelensky’s third visit to the US capital since January, highlighting the ongoing high-stakes diplomacy surrounding the war.
Trump posted on his Truth Social account:
“I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
As tensions continue to escalate on both sides, the international community watches closely for signs of progress—or further deadlock—in efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.