Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has issued a strong warning to U.S. President Donald Trump against supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv. In remarks to Russian state media TASS on October 9, Azarov called the move a “fatal mistake,” saying it would transform Trump from a potential mediator in the Ukraine conflict into someone openly siding with international adversaries.
Azarov argued that while the missiles would inflict damage on Russia, the risks greatly outweigh any strategic gain. He warned that providing such long-range arms would damage Trump’s credibility in diplomacy, making him appear allied with European leaders like Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz, and Emmanuel Macron rather than pursuing peace.
Meanwhile, President Trump has indicated that he has “sort of made a decision” on whether to supply Tomahawks to Ukraine, though he emphasized wanting clear information on where and how they would be used. Russian leadership—including Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov—has similarly cautioned that transfer of Tomahawks would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation,” though Moscow has suggested it does not believe such weapons will fundamentally alter battlefield dynamics.
The debate unfolds amid broader diplomatic and military tensions over Ukraine’s requests for long-range strike capabilities. Azarov’s intervention is notable not only because of his past role, but because his views align with Moscow’s concerns about escalation.
