App

Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play

Witkoff Advised Ukraine to Ask Trump to Lift Tariffs Rather Than Seek Tomahawk Missiles

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in October advised Ukrainian officials to ask for a 10-year suspension of tariffs instead of long-range Tomahawk missiles. This came after Trump's call with Putin, after which the United States refused to provide the missiles to Ukraine.

1252
Share:
0:00 / 0:00  min.

In October 2025, the U.S. president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, urged Ukrainian officials to ask Donald Trump to cancel tariffs instead of providing long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. His remarks are cited by The Wall Street Journal.

That month President Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Washington hoping to obtain American Tomahawk cruise missiles — the Ukrainian military wanted to put oil refineries out of action, forcing Moscow to come to negotiations on more favorable terms, the media outlet writes.

Refusal of missiles after a call with Putin

However, the day before Zelensky's arrival, U.S. leader Donald Trump had a call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and decided not to offer Tomahawks to Ukraine.

Witkoff urged Ukrainian officials to try a different approach, asking what good "a handful of missiles" would do, WSJ reports.

Alternative proposal

Instead, the special envoy urged Ukraine to ask Trump for a 10-year exemption from tariffs. In Witkoff's view, this would give a significant boost to the Ukrainian economy.

"I make deals. That's why I'm here. We keep knocking on doors and offering ideas."

– he explained to reporters.

World News

Maximum Power: How Kyivstron 2026 Tournament Went
1
"Son, we are waiting for you": relatives of missing soldiers

"Son, we are waiting for you": relatives of missing soldiers

2
"Happy Holidays with God": How a Children's Camp Runs in the Community

"Happy Holidays with God": How a Children's Camp Runs in the Community

3
2 km for a Hero: Ukrainians joined a memorial run

2 km for a Hero: Ukrainians joined a memorial run

4
Aurora warehouses are burning: enemy struck Buchansky district

Aurora warehouses are burning: enemy struck Buchansky district

5
Rocket attack on Kyiv region: destroyed houses, casualties and stories of survivors

Rocket attack on Kyiv region: destroyed houses, casualties and stories of survivors

Community

Sviatopetrivsky Lyceum was once designed for approximately 350 students. Today, around 1,600 children study here, over one hundred teachers work there, the school operates in two shifts, develops sports, student government, and simultaneously undergoes large-scale reconstruction. The full-scale war changed everything — but did not stop the lyceum. The director Sergiy Zashchytynsky spoke about the first days of the invasion, shelters, educators, children of war, and the school of the future.

1 day ago
Community

35 young artists from different parts of Ukraine have traveled to Croatia to present Ukrainian circus art to European audiences. Participants of Bilhorod Circus Fest will showcase a special Dream Makers program in Zagreb and Opatija. For the organizers, this trip is not just a series of performances, but the first step towards creating a professional international platform for Ukrainian children who see their future in circus arts.

1 day ago