Trump Considers Sending Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine, Raising Escalation Concerns
WASHINGTON – former President Donald Trump is weighing a potential shift in U.S.military aid to Ukraine,indicating he may authorize the delivery of tomahawk long-range cruise missiles. The move,revealed during a flight to Israel,comes after a second phone conversation with Ukrainian President volodymyr Zelensky,who has pressed for enhanced military capabilities to launch counter-attacks against Russia.
“We’ll see… I may,” Trump told reporters when asked about providing the missiles.
The Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles), possibly enabling Ukraine to strike targets within Moscow itself. Trump stated he might discuss the possibility with Russia, adding, “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 also questioned RussiaS appetite for such a advancement, stating, “Do they [russia] wont Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.”
Moscow has previously warned Washington against supplying long-range missiles to Kyiv, characterizing it as a significant escalation that woudl further strain U.S.-Russian relations.
Kyiv has repeatedly requested long-range weaponry as it considers striking deeper into Russian territory amid the ongoing conflict, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Discussions between Zelensky and Trump focused on bolstering Ukraine’s military strength, including air defenses and long-range arms. Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, have endured sustained bombardment from Russian drones and missiles, particularly targeting energy infrastructure and causing widespread power outages.
Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, recently suggested the U.S. president had authorized strikes within Russia, stating “there are no such things as sanctuaries” from attacks.
However, the Kremlin downplayed the potential impact of Tomahawk missiles, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating last month, “whether it’s Tomahawks or other missiles, they won’t be able to change the dynamic.”
