Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
WATCH: U.S. open to accepting Ukrainian drones, offering Zelenskyy Tomahawks
Posted
October 17, 2025
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3,319
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October 17, 2025
3,319
32
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4:48Now PlayingPresident Donald Trump signaled a possible openness to purchasing Ukrainian drones in exchange for the U.S. providing Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
The comments came during an exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was visiting the White House a day after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone.
In the Friday meeting, Trump signaled that he is looking toward an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine. “Hopefully, we'll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks. I think we're fairly close to that.”
Zelenskyy then interjected that Tomahawks wouldn’t be the only weapon required to help win the war. He said drones, which Ukraine produces, were also necessary.
“The United States has Tomahawks and other missiles, very strong missiles, but they can have our thousands of drones,” Zelenskyy said in English.
When asked if Zelenskyy was offering an exchange of Ukrainian drones for U.S.-made Tomahawks, Zelenskyy responded in English, “Yes, we have proposition.”
Trump said “we would” be interested in Ukrainian drones.
“We have a lot of drones right now. We build our own drones, but we also buy drones from others, and they make a very good drone,” he said. “Drone warfare has really come to the fore over the last couple of years because of this war.”
Trump later responded that, as president, he has “an obligation” to make sure the U.S. has an adequate stockpile of weapons “because you never know what's going to happen.”
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