Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who arrived in the USA on 16 October, held a meeting in Washington with representatives of the Raytheon defence company, which produces, among other things, Tomahawk and Patriot missile systems.
“Talked about the situation on the battlefield and Russia’s intensified strikes against our people and civilian infrastructure. Discussed Raytheon’s production capabilities, possible ways for our cooperation to strengthen air defence and increase Ukraine’s long-range capabilities and the prospects for Ukrainian-American production. There are solutions that can enhance the defence of life in Ukraine. We are working at all levels to ensure their implementation,” Zelensky wrote in a telegram following the meeting.
In addition, the head of state held talks with representatives of the Lockheed Martin defence company, where he “spoke about Ukraine’s specific needs for air defence systems and missiles to them, as well as F-16 aircraft”.
According to the president’s press service, Zelensky also had a meeting with the heads and CEOs of leading US energy companies: Bechtel, Fluence Energy, GE Vernova, Holtec International, Invenergy, Jacobs, Mercuria, Parsons, TechMet USA, Venture Global and Westinghouse Electric Company.
“Most of them are already working in Ukraine and are interested in partnership development. The main focus of the meeting was the prospects of realisation of joint short-term and long-term projects and their financing. We discussed initiatives on oil, gas and nuclear power. We talked not only about what is already being implemented, but also about planned projects,” the OP said without giving any details.
Zelensky also held talks with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Discussed in detail energy capabilities and potential projects for partnership in the energy sector. Told about the Russian strikes on the Ukrainian energy system and the need for early restoration of the affected facilities,” he wrote in a telegram.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and United States President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet on 17 October.
At this meeting, they are expected to discuss the possibility of Ukraine receiving long-range Tomahawk missiles.
On the eve of this meeting, the US President had a nearly two-hour phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said he would discuss with Zelensky “the conversation with President Putin and much more”.
The Tomahawk missile has a range of up to 1,000 miles (more than 1,600 kilometres), which is far beyond the capabilities of US ATACMS multiple launch rocket systems (about 190 miles), which are actively used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Tomahawk has greater speed and combat power compared to Ukrainian drones, which are capable of striking deep into Russian territory but often clash with modern air defence systems.
Ukraine has been asking partners for long-range weapons over the past year. Kiev is also trying to develop its own long-range solutions, particularly the Palianitsa and Flamingo systems, but they do not have the same combat characteristics as the Tomahawk.