After the meeting, Zelensky noted that he and Trump discussed issues related to missiles but concluded that it was better not to make any public statements, as the U.S. is not interested in escalating the conflict.
In his social media post, Trump urged both Kyiv and Moscow to "stop in place" and cease military actions.
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky took place the day after Trump's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they agreed to meet in Hungary soon.
Zelensky expressed the opinion that the use of "Tomahawk" missiles against Russian oil and energy facilities could significantly undermine Putin's military power.
Although Trump did not rule out this possibility, his statements at the White House on Friday were quite cautious.
"I hope that this will not become a necessity; I hope we can end the conflict without using 'Tomahawks,'" the U.S. president said, adding that such missiles are necessary for the defense of America.
Trump also noted that the transfer of missiles could lead to "escalation," but added that this issue still requires discussion.
When asked by the BBC whether the threat of missiles prompted Putin to agree to meet with Trump, he replied, "The threat exists, but it is always relevant."
Zelensky proposed the idea of exchanging drones for "Tomahawks," which elicited smiles and approving nods from Trump.
Additionally, Zelensky praised Trump for his contribution to the conclusion of the first phase of the peace agreement in the Middle East, suggesting that this could serve as an incentive for assistance in ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
A reporter asked Zelensky for his opinion on whether Putin wants to reach an agreement or is just stalling before the meeting with Trump in Budapest.
"I can't say," he replied, adding that the prospect of receiving "Tomahawks" causes "fear in Russia, as this is powerful weaponry."
When asked if he was leaving Washington with hope that Ukraine would receive "Tomahawks," he replied, "I am a realist."
After the meeting, Zelensky posted on X that he had contacted European leaders to discuss the outcomes of the meeting with Trump, emphasizing that "the main priority now is to protect as many lives as possible and ensure the security of Ukraine."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described his talks with European leaders as "productive," confirming that "the UK will continue to provide humanitarian and military support."
In recent days, Trump has shown a willingness to consider the sale of "Tomahawks," while Putin warned that this could worsen relations between the U.S. and Russia.
On Thursday, Trump stated that "significant progress" was made during his conversation with Putin, and they agreed on upcoming in-person negotiations in Hungary.
When asked if Zelensky would participate in these negotiations, Trump, standing next to the Ukrainian president, noted that there is "animosity" between Putin and Zelensky.
"We want everyone to be comfortable," he added. "We will be involved in the process, possibly in groups of three, but perhaps also separately." Trump also emphasized that the three leaders "need to come together."
He characterized his conversation with Putin, which was the first since mid-August, as "very productive" and added that teams from Washington and Moscow would meet next week.
Trump hoped that a personal meeting in Alaska in August would help convince Putin to start comprehensive peace negotiations, but that meeting did not lead to a resolution of the conflict.
A few days later, Trump interrupted a meeting with Zelensky and European leaders to contact Putin again.
