In brief
US President Donald Trump is contemplating the transfer of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, stating that it might represent 'a new step of aggression' in the ongoing conflict with Russia. This announcement follows a weekend conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is advocating for enhanced military support. The Kremlin has expressed deep concern, warning that such a move could escalate tensions significantly. Trump noted that the missiles would enable Ukraine to strike targets deep within Russia, complicating the already strained US-Russian relations.
US President Donald Trump is considering sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Asked by reporters on Air Force One on Sunday whether he would provide Kyiv with Tomahawks, Trump replied: We'll see... I may. The missiles would be a new step of aggression in Ukraine's war with Russia, he said.
The comments follow a phone call at the weekend between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who pushed for stronger military capabilities to launch counter-attacks against Russia.
Moscow has previously warned Washington against providing long-range missiles to Kyiv, saying it would cause a major escalation in the conflict and strain US-Russian relations.
Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles), which would put Moscow within reach for Ukraine.
Trump said he would possibly speak to Russia about the Tomahawks requested by Ukraine. 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.
Do they [Russia] want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don't think so, the US president added.
On Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the topic of Tomahawks was of extreme concern to Russia. Now is really a very dramatic moment in terms of the fact that tensions are escalating from all sides, he said.
In September Peskov dismissed the threat of Tomahawks, saying they would not be able to change the dynamic of the war. But in his comments on Sunday he noted that if Tomahawks were launched at Russia, Moscow would not be able to tell whether they were carrying nuclear warheads.
What should the Russian Federation think? Just how should Russia react?, he said.
On Monday morning, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev doubled down on Peskov's comments. How should Russia respond? Exactly! Medvedev said on social media. The delivery of these missiles could end badly for everyone. And first of all – for Trump himself, he wrote.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has made multiple requests for long-range missiles, as it weighs up striking Russian cities far from the front lines of the grinding conflict.
In their recent phone calls, Zelensky and Trump discussed Ukraine's bid to strengthen its military capabilities, including boosting its air defenses and long-range arms.
Ukrainian cities including Kyiv have repeatedly come under heavy Russian bombardment with drones and missiles. Russia has particularly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure as winter approaches, causing widespread power cuts.
