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Stay up to date with live coverage of the Trump administration and national politics Friday as the president meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House — where Zelensky is expected to ask for Tomahawk missiles to help retake territory seized by Russia in its three-year war on the country.

It comes on the heels of Trump’s “very productive” call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, during which the two leaders agreed to talk face-to-face in Hungary within the next couple weeks to try again to end Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Trump: I told Zelensky to 'stop the killing' and 'make a DEAL' with Putin

By Samuel Chamberlain

En route to Florida, President Trump has said he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring the three-year, eight-month war to an end.

"The meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was very interesting, and cordial, but I told him, as I likewise strongly suggested to President Putin, that it is time to stop the killing, and make a DEAL! " Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts. They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide! No more shooting, no more Death, no more vast and unsustainable sums of money spent. This is a War that would have never started if I were President.

"Thousands of people being slaughtered each and every week — NO MORE, GO HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES IN PEACE!"

Trump leaves for Florida without taking questions

By Samuel Chamberlain

President Trump did not take questions from reporters on the White House lawn as he departed for his Mar-a-Lago resort.

We now wait to hear from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump to depart White House for Mar-a-Lago, Zelensky talking to Euro leaders

By Samuel Chamberlain

President Trump was scheduled to leave Washington at 3 p.m. for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

More than 80 minutes later, we are still waiting for him to emerge and possibly speak to reporters.

Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is on a call with European leaders, The Post understands.

Volodymyr Zelensky departs White House

By Samuel Chamberlain

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has left the White House following a meeting with President Trump and other US officials that lasted approximately two-and-a-half hours.

Zelensky is expected to speak to reporters about his discussions with the US president concerning Russia's ongoing invasion of Kyiv.

Trump concludes Zelensky Q and A with dramatic f-bomb about Venezuela

By Steven Nelson

President Trump dramatically ended the public portion of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a profane remark about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

A reporter asked Trump to respond to reports "that Maduro offered everything in his country, all the natural resources. He even recorded a message to you in English recently offering mediation."

"He has offered everything," Trump concurred. "He's offered everything. You're right, you know why? Because he doesn't want to f--k around with the United States. Thank you, everybody."

Zelensky 'not happy' with Russian-proposed tunnel to Alaska

By Steven Nelson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "not happy" with a proposed tunnel connecting Russia and Alaska — after President Trump asked for his opinion on the concept.

"I just heard about it — a tunnel from Russia to Alaska. I just heard about that one. That's an interesting one. We'll have to think about that," Trump told reporters.

"But this came up yesterday, a tunnel from Russia to Alaska. That's an interesting one — what do you think of that, Mr. President? Do you have any ideas? How do you like that idea?"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on October 17, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "not happy" with a proposed tunnel connecting Russia and Alaska. Getty Images

Zelensky replied, "I'm not happy with this."

Trump laughed and added: "I don't think you're going to like it! I don't think he likes it!"

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, tweeted Thursday that there could be "a Putin-Trump tunnel connecting the Eurasia and Americas for < $8 billion."

From the Soviet JFK docs released by @RepLuna: Kennedy–Khrushchev World Peace Bridge “could and should be built between Alaska and Russia at once.”

With modern @boringcompany technology this can become a Putin-Trump tunnel connecting the Eurasia and Americas for < $8 billion pic.twitter.com/c84VK75rh5

— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) October 16, 2025

Trump says US military bombed 'drug-carrying submarine'

By Steven Nelson

President Trump announced Friday that the US military attacked an alleged "drug-carrying submarine" as part of its campaign against Venezuelan smugglers.

"We attacked a submarine, and that was a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for the transportation of massive amounts of drugs. Just so you understand," Trump told reporters.

"This was not an innocent group of people. I don't know too many people that have submarines, and that was an attack on a drug-carrying loaded-up submarine."

Trump interested in obtaining Ukraine’s 'very good' drone technology

By Caitlin Doornbos

President Zelensky said Ukraine has proposed exchanging its drone technology for American weapons like Tomahawk missiles.

Asked for his thoughts on the idea, President Trump acknowledged that Washington and Kyiv have been discussing such an exchange, but did not say if Tomahawks were specifically part of the weapons the US may send.

”They make a very good drone,” Trump said of Ukraine.

Trump floats brokering peace between Pakistan and Taliban-run Afghanistan

By Steven Nelson

President Trump said he's willing to attempt to broker peace between Pakistan and Taliban-run Afghanistan — after Pakistani airstrikes targeting Pakistan Taliban locations in Kabul and other cities.

"I do understand that Pakistan attacked, or there is an attack going on with Afghanistan. That's an easy one for me to solve, if I have to solve it," Trump said as he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"In the meantime, I have to run the USA. But I love solving wars. You know why? I like stopping people from being killed, and I've saved millions and millions of lives."

Trump on Ukraine retaking its lost land: 'You never know'

By Steven Nelson

President Trump indicated he's no longer certain that Ukraine can reclaim "all" of its land currently held by Russian forces.

"You never know. You know, war is very interesting. You never know, do you? Just never know with war, war and peace," Trump said when a reporter asked about his prior assessment.

US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 17, 2025.
"You never know, do you? Just never know with war, war and peace," Trump said about whether Ukraine can reclaim "all" of its land currently held by Russian forces. AFP via Getty Images

Trump wrote in a Sept. 23 Truth Social post that "I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form."

He previously had urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to give up territory in any potential peace deal.

Trump says Ukraine 'hopefully' won't need Tomahawks

By Steven Nelson

President Trump told reporters that he thinks Ukraine may not need Tomahawk missiles ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky — apparently dashing Kyiv's quest for the powerful weapons.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks," Trump said.

President Donald Trump speaks before a lunch with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington.
"Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks," Trump said. AP

Zelensky was expected to request Tomahawks from Trump, who later indicated he may reconsider at a future point.

"We're going to be talking about Tomahawks," the US president said, "and we'd much rather have them not need Tomahawks."

Trump insists Putin 'wants to end the war' — but Zelensky says Russian dictator 'not ready'

By Steven Nelson

President Trump said Vladimir Putin "wants to end the war" — while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared the Russian president "not ready" for peace.

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend a lunch meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on October 17, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Scott Bessent, Vice President JD Vance, President Donald Trump and Marco Rubio attend a lunch meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday. Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) takes a sip of water during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and members of his Cabinet at the White House on October 17, 2025, in Washington, DC. President Trump, fresh off a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, is hosting President Zelensky for a bilateral lunch in the Cabinet Room in hopes of advancing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
"Putin is not really, I think, not ready, but I think I'm confident that with your help, we can stop this war," Zelensky said to Trump about ending the war. Getty Images

"I think President Putin wants to end the war, or I wouldn't be talking this way," Trump said. "I think he wants to end the war. I spoke to him yesterday for two and a half hours. We went through a lot of details, he wants to get it ended, I think that President Zelensky wants to get it ended, now we have to get it done."

Zelensky, however, said moments later: "Putin is not really, I think, not ready, but I think I'm confident that with your help, we can stop this war."

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