Zelenskiy at the start of the White House talks said he had a "proposition" in which Ukraine could provide the US with its advanced drones, while Washington would sell Kyiv the Tomahawk cruise missiles that Ukrainian officials say they desperately need to motivate Russian President Vladimir Putin to get serious about peace talks.
But Trump said he was hesitant to tap into the US supply, a turnabout after days of suggesting he was seriously weighing sending the missiles to help Ukraine beat back Russia's invasion.
"I have an obligation also to make sure that we're completely stocked up as a country, because you never know what's going to happen in war and peace," Trump said.
"We'd much rather have them not need Tomahawks. We'd much rather have the war be over to be honest."
Following the meeting on Friday, US time, Trump called on Kyiv and Moscow to "stop where they are" and end the war.
"Enough blood has been shed, with property lines being defined by War and Guts," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
"They should stop where they are. Let both claim Victory, let History decide!"
Zelenskiy told reporters after the meeting it was time for a ceasefire and negotiations, but appeared to stop short of embracing Trump's call for an immediate end to the war.
"The president is right we have to stop where we are, and then to speak," Zelenskiy said.
Zelenskiy congratulated Trump over landing last week's ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza and said Trump now has "momentum" to stop the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Zelenskiy has been seeking the Tomahawks, which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deep into Russian territory and target key military sites, energy facilities and critical infrastructure.
Putin had warned Trump during their call that supplying Kyiv with the Tomahawks "won't change the situation on the battlefield, but would cause substantial damage to the relationship between our countries", according to Yuri Ushakov, Putin's foreign policy adviser.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said talk of providing Tomahawks had already served a purpose by pushing Putin into talks.
"The conclusion is that we need to continue with strong steps. Strength can truly create momentum for peace," Sybiha said on the social platform X.
Trump announced on Thursday following his call with Putin that he would soon meet with him in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss ways to end the war.
The two also agreed that their senior aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would meet next week at an unspecified location.
The president said it was "to be determined" if Zelenskiy would be involved in the talks in Hungary — suggesting a "double meeting" with the warring countries' leaders was likely the most workable option for productive negotiations.
"These two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody," Trump added.
Asked if he was concerned Putin was stringing him along, Trump acknowledged it was a possibility but said he was confident he could handle the Russian leader.
"I've been played all my life by the best of them, and I came out pretty well," Trump said. He added, "I think I'm pretty good at this stuff."
With Reuters
