President Donald Trump left open the option of sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine during a lengthy call with Vladimir Putin, even as he is not expected to commit to the weapons in Friday's White House meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, sources say. The administration has plans ready if Trump orders it, viewing the threat as leverage to push diplomacy and a possible peace deal. Putin secured a pledge for a Trump-Putin meeting in Budapest within two weeks or so, but Trump kept the threat, telling reporters Putin "didn't like" the idea.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.