Speaking in Ukrainian, President Zelensky tells reporters that Ukraine is unable to fight using its current air defence systems against Russian ballistic missiles.
“It is very difficult,” he says.
Zelensky adds that Ukraine needs to put pressure on Russia in the form of a weapons package to achieve its objectives.
The Ukrainian president later adds in English that he hopes the US can take Ukrainian drones. It comes after he suggested Ukraine could offer its drones in exchange for Tomahawk missiles.
Zelensky says for the sake of each nation, he agrees with Trump that he and Putin must stop fighting and start talking about a just and lasting peace.
He says he’s open to bilateral or trilateral meetings, or any formats that can “bring us closer to peace”.
Zelensky suggests Ukraine could provide drones to the US in exchange for long-range Tomahawk missiles, during talks with Trump at the White House
The Ukrainian president congratulates Trump on the Gaza ceasefire deal, and tells him: “I think we can end this war with your help”
Trump warns that giving Ukraine Tomahawk missiles “could mean bigger escalation” and that “a lot of bad things can happen”
The US president earlier signalled he might be willing to give Tomahawks to Ukraine, but after speaking to Vladimir Putin yesterday said: “We need them too… so I don’t know what we can do about that”
Trump and Putin agreed to meet in Hungary during their phone call, with fresh talks between the leaders’ advisers planned for as early as next week
