US President Donald Trump plans to send long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, saying it would constitute “a new stage of aggression” in his war with Russia.
When asked on Air Force One if he would send Tomahawks to Ukraine, Trump replied “we’ll see…I can.”
This follows a second phone call over the weekend between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who argued for stronger military capabilities to launch counterattacks against Russia.
Moscow has already warned Washington against supplying long-range missiles to kyiv, saying it would cause a major escalation of the conflict and strain US-Russian relations.
Tomahawk missiles have a range of 2,500 km (1,500 miles), which would put Moscow within range of Ukraine.
Trump spoke to reporters as he flew to Israel. He indicated that he would eventually discuss with Russia the Tomahawks requested by Ukraine.
“I could tell them (Russia) that if the war is not settled, we may very well not do it, but we can do it.”
“Do they (Russia) want the Tomahawks to go their way? I don’t think so,” the president said.
kyiv has made numerous requests for long-range missiles as it plans to strike Russian cities far from the front lines of a bitter conflict.
In their phone calls, Zelensky and Trump discussed Ukraine’s attempt to strengthen its military capabilities, including strengthening its air defense and long-range weaponry.
Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, have been subjected to heavy Russian bombardment with drones and missiles. Russia has particularly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing power outages.
Last month, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested the US president had authorized strikes deep into Russian territory, telling Fox News “there are no sanctuaries” from attacks in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has downplayed the chances of the Tomahawks changing the course of the war.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last month: “Whether it’s Tomahawks or other missiles, they won’t be able to change the dynamic.”
