Trump to host Zelenskyy at White House after call with Putin amid missile debate
World Desk
President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, signaling hesitation over approving Kyiv’s request for long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. The meeting follows Trump’s extended phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, during which the two discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Although Trump had recently shown openness to the missile sale, he appeared to retreat from the idea after Putin’s warning against such a move.
Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser John Bolton is expected to surrender to authorities and appear in a Maryland federal court Friday over allegations of mishandling classified materials. Bolton’s attorney insists he committed no wrongdoing. The case is the third in a month involving figures critical of Trump, fueling debate over political bias in the Justice Department.
In Europe, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hailed his country’s selection as the venue for an upcoming Trump-Putin meeting aimed at discussing a potential peace deal in Ukraine. Orbán said Hungary’s opposition to arming Kyiv influenced the choice.
Separately, an AP-NORC poll found Trump’s approval on foreign policy has risen following his role in brokering a Gaza ceasefire, though his overall domestic approval remains stagnant at around 40 percent.
