TRUMP TO TALK WITH PUTIN AMID UKRAINE MISSILE PUSH

Ahead of his White House meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump faces pressure to approve Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine to strengthen its position in peace talks with Russia.

- AGENCIES

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right and President Donald Trump during a press conference (File Photo/ Agencies)

(Agencies)

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday as he considers Ukraine's push for long-range missiles, according toa White House official who was not authorized to comment on the private call and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The call comes ahead of ‘Trump's meeting on Friday at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian leader has been pressing Trump to sell Kyiv Tomahawk missiles which would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Zelenskyy has argued such strikes would help compel Putin to take Trump's calls for direct negotiations between the Russia and Ukraine to end the war more seriously.

Witha fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal holding, Trump has said he’s now turning his attention to bringing Russia’s war on Ukraine to an end and is weighing providing Kyiv long-range weaponry as he looks to prod Moscow to the negotiating table.