Trump, Zelensky Meeting Signals U.S. Shift on Ukraine

At a closed-door White House meeting on Oct. 17, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky appeared publicly cordial but multiple reports described a tense exchange in which European officials say Trump grew frustrated and raised his voice as Ukraine pressed for deeper U.S. support. Trump said he will not approve long-range Tomahawk missiles for now and pushed Kyiv to accept current battle lines or territorial concessions to end the war; Zelensky called the conversation 'pointed' but 'productive.' U.S. intelligence support is being expanded and has helped Kyiv strike Russian energy infrastructure, contributing to disruptions in Russian fuel production and exports. Trump said he would meet Vladimir Putin in Budapest 'within two weeks or so' to seek a negotiated end to the war, a posture that, along with his public flip-flopping, has left many Ukrainians baffled. Despite diplomatic uncertainty and ongoing bombardment, Ukrainian society has shown resilience through mass fundraising festivals and volunteers sending ambulances and other support to the front lines.