Day: October 17, 2025

Main statements by Zelensky after meeting with President Trump:

▪️“We decided to focus more on production,” Zelensky noted, emphasizing joint work with the US and other countries on the logistics of future arms supplies.

▪️On the question of long-range missiles, he said both sides [The US and Ukraine] agreed not to discuss the issue publicly to avoid escalation.

▪️Zelensky said he did not discuss the issue of Ukrainian strikes on targets inside Russia during his meeting with President Trump.

▪️He stated that Ukraine trusts the US and President Trump “because he genuinely wants to end this war.”

▪️“Putin hates me, and I hate him too,” Zelensky said, adding that peace talks should begin only after a ceasefire along the current front line.

▪️When asked if he is optimistic about receiving Tomahawks, Zelensky laughed and said: “I’m a realist.”

▪️“We have to stop where we are now, and then start talking — but the question is Putin, because we didn’t start this war,” Zelensky said, agreeing with Trump, who earlier urged both leaders in a Truth Social post to stop where they are and halt the fighting.

▪️Ukraine cannot withstand ballistic missile attacks with its current air defenses — “our energy system simply can’t handle it,” Zelensky said, calling for stronger pressure on Russia through advanced weapons supplies.

▪️Zelensky said Ukraine needs strong security guarantees after a ceasefire to ensure Putin does not return with new aggression.

— KyivPost (@KyivPost) Oct 17, 2025