Amaravati, October 16, 2025:

U.S. President Donald Trump, buoyed by the shaky Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage exchange in Gaza, is pivoting sharply to wrap up Russia's war on Ukraine, the biggest European clash since World War II, now entering its fourth year.

A key 2024 re-election pledge, the push critiques Joe Biden's approach and seeks to prod Moscow into negotiations, despite past hurdles in linking Putin and Zelensky directly. Trump, speaking to special envoy Steve Witkoff, prioritised it bluntly: “First we have to get Russia done... If you don't mind, Steve, let's focus on Russia first.”

Ahead of Friday's fourth in-person huddle with Zelensky this year, Trump is mulling Tomahawk cruise missile sales to Kyiv, packing a 1,600 km punch for deep Russian strikes despite Putin's red-line threats.

Zelensky has pressed for them to force talks, and Trump noted Tuesday: “He'd like to have Tomahawks... We have a lot of Tomahawks.”

Foundation for Defence of Democracies' Mark Montgomery called it a "significant political and military decision," suggesting quicker wins from shorter-range ERAM or ATACMS missiles already approved, up to 3,350 units this year, to target Russian logistics near the front.

Zelensky is likely to push for stricter sanctions on Russia's economy during the meeting. Trump has hesitated but targeted NATO allies' Russian oil buys to starve the war machine. A Senate bill by Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal eyes steep tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, gas, uranium, and more; the White House is tweaking it for presidential leeway, with Treasury's Scott Bessent awaiting European alignment: “All I hear from the Europeans is that Putin is coming to Warsaw... We will respond if our European partners join us.”

This quiet engagement signals Trump's resolve, as he told Israel's Knesset earlier that the Gaza truce could unlock broader Middle East normalisation.