World Desk

Fresh from brokering a fragile Gaza ceasefire, President Donald Trump said Thursday his next priority is to end Russia’s war on Ukraine, signaling readiness to pressure Moscow, and even provide long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, if Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate.

Ending both the Gaza and Ukraine wars was central to Trump’s 2024 campaign promise. But despite repeated efforts, he has struggled to convince Putin to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the war nears its fourth year. Now, buoyed by progress in the Middle East, Trump says he’s determined to “get Russia done first.”

Trump will host Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, their fourth meeting this year. Ahead of the talks, Trump said he’s weighing the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles — a system capable of striking nearly 1,000 miles inside Russia — if Putin doesn’t agree to peace talks soon. The move would mark a sharp escalation and test Moscow’s “red line.”

Analysts say supplying Tomahawks would be more symbolic than immediate, given the time needed for training. Instead, experts recommend bolstering Ukraine’s arsenal with ERAM and ATACMS missiles already approved for sale.

Zelenskyy is also expected to push Trump for tougher sanctions on Russia. While Congress debates a bipartisan bill to impose steep tariffs on countries buying Russian oil and gas, Trump has focused on pressuring NATO allies and India to curb Russian crude imports.

Behind the scenes, the White House is quietly engaging with senators to refine the sanctions bill, signaling growing openness to stronger economic measures. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. seeks “greater buy-in from Europe,” stressing that “Putin threatens Warsaw, not Boston.”