U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he may supply Ukraine with Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles if Russia does not end the war soon.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on his way to Israel, Trump described the Tomahawk as a powerful weapon and suggested he might first inform Russian President Vladimir Putin before proceeding.
“I might tell them [Russia] that if the war is not settled, that we may very well, we may not, but we may do it,” he said, adding, “Do they [Russia] want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.”
The Tomahawk missile has a range of around 1,550 miles, which would allow Ukraine to strike deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the U.S. for long-range missile support to strengthen Kyiv’s ability to counter Russian offensives and defend critical infrastructure targeted by repeated strikes.
Moscow has strongly opposed the provision of such missiles, warning that it would represent a “new step of aggression” and sharply increase tensions between the U.S. and Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted concerns about escalation and noted the nuclear-capable nature of some missile variants.
This statement follows ongoing Russian missile attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, intensifying the humanitarian and operational challenges Kyiv faces as winter approaches. Trump’s possible delivery of Tomahawks would significantly extend Ukraine’s strike capabilities but risks deepening the conflict further.
Zelenskyy has assured that any Tomahawk missiles received would be used strictly against military targets, emphasising that Ukraine does not attack civilians, in contrast to Russian actions. The situation remains tense as global powers watch closely, with Trump’s decision pending amid international calls for resolution.
This conflict, now extending nearly four years since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, continues to be Europe’s most severe military crisis in decades.