U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that before approving a transfer of U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, he would want to know exactly how Kyiv intended to use them—“where are they sending them?”—as he seeks to avoid further escalation in Russia’s war. Trump stopped short of outright rejecting the supply, saying he had “sort of made a decision” but still needed clarity on Ukraine’s operational plans.
Ukraine has formally requested that European allies procure Tomahawks to pass on to Kyiv, citing the missiles’ 2,500 km range as a strategic asset. The range of the weapon would bring deep Russian territory, potentially including Moscow, within striking reach of Ukrainian forces—raising alarm in Moscow over a possible dramatic shift in the war’s dynamics.
In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin warned that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would constitute a “qualitatively new stage of escalation” and risk tearing apart U.S.-Russian relations. Russian officials also questioned whether American personnel would be directly involved in targeting or launching operations, noting the possibility that U.S. involvement could be seen as entering the conflict.
Meanwhile, sources told Reuters that U.S. shipments of Tomahawks to Ukraine appear unlikely, citing limited inventory already committed to U.S. naval use. Observers say Trump’s stance reflects a balancing act: supporting Ukraine’s military needs while avoiding a U.S. escalation into direct confrontation with Russia.
As the debate unfolds, Kyiv has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest statements, and U.S. officials are reportedly weighing the operational, logistical, and geopolitical risks. With tensions already running high, Trump’s demand for clarity signals both the importance he attaches to the weapon’s use and the danger he sees in misstep.
