Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky were unable to reach an agreement on long-range Tomahawk missiles as the US president warned of 'escalation'.

The Ukrainian president made his third visit to the White House since January, Trump finished an hours-long phone call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in which they made 'great progress'.

Zelensky has repeatedly been asking the US for Tomahawk missiles, which have the capability to hit Moscow if needed, with Pentagon officials confirming they were considering supplying them.

When asked earlier this week if Trump was considering giving Ukraine the Tomahawks, he said: 'We'll see... I may.'

But despite the apparent progress in the deal, Trump warned this evening the missiles will be an 'escalation'.

He said: '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.'

He added Moscow was 'rushing to resume dialogue as soon as it hears about Tomahawks'.

Both Trump and Putin are now set to meet in Hungary 'within two weeks'.

The Russian leader warned Trump 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 officials say the Tomahawks are needed to motivate Russian President Vladmir Putin to get serious about peace talks.

The Ukrainian president congratulated Trump over last week's ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza and said the US leader now has 'momentum' to stop the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Zelensky and his senior aides met Trump and his team over lunch, a day after the US leader and Putin held a lengthy phone call to discuss the conflict.

'President Trump now has a big chance to finish this war,' Zelensky added.

Trump's shifting rhetoric on Tomahawks is disappointing to the Ukrainians.

In recent days, he had shown an openness to selling Ukraine the Tomahawks, even as Putin warned that such a move would further strain the US-Russian relationship.

But after Thursday's call with Putin, Trump began downplaying the prospects of Ukraine getting the missiles, which have a range of about 995 miles.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Trump meets Zelensky over Tomahawks which 'could end war' after call with Putin