Russia Warns of Retaliation as U.S. Considers Supplying Long-Range Tomahawk Missiles to Ukraine
Moscow has vowed to respond if the United States moves forward with plans to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles, escalating tensions as Kyiv seeks to bolster its counteroffensive capabilities. The warning from Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vassili Nebenzia, came after a recent request from Ukraine for longer-range weaponry.
The potential delivery of Tomahawks represents a meaningful shift in the nature of Western military aid, offering Ukraine the ability to strike deeper into russian-controlled territory. While the Biden administration is currently reviewing the request, the move has already drawn sharp criticism from the Kremlin, despite initial calm from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who stated earlier this week that even the deployment of tomahawks would not alter the military landscape. This growth underscores the increasingly fraught dynamic between the two nations, with the stakes rising as Ukraine prepares for a pivotal phase in the ongoing conflict.
U.S. officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have engaged in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the need for enhanced weaponry. Following these conversations, the administration initiated a review of Ukraine’s request for the advanced missile systems.
According to reports from the wall Street journal and Russian news agency Tass, Nebenzia indicated Moscow would formulate a response should the U.S. authorize the transfer of Tomahawks. Lavrov, however, offered a more measured assessment, suggesting the Kremlin believes the missiles would have a limited impact on the battlefield.
