U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russia, stating that he may authorize the supply of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine if Moscow does not move to settle the ongoing war.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Israel and Egypt, Trump said, “I might say, ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks.’”
He described the Tomahawk as an “incredible weapon, very offensive weapon” that Russia “does not need,” suggesting that the threat of its deployment could serve as leverage against President Vladimir Putin.
The warning followed what Trump called a “very productive” phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who reportedly requested the missiles to bolster Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities and air defense.
Tomahawk missiles, depending on the variant, can reach targets up to 2,500 kilometers away, potentially allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory.
Trump acknowledged that supplying the missiles would represent “a new step of aggression,” adding, “I don’t think Russia would want Tomahawks going in that direction.”
Moscow has repeatedly cautioned against such a move. President Putin previously warned that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would “seriously damage” U.S.-Russia relations and trigger a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.”
Despite the risks, Trump emphasized that a peaceful resolution would be in Putin’s best interest. “I really think Mr. Putin would look great if he got this settled, and it’s not going to be good for him if not,” he said.
The remarks come amid renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and growing international pressure for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
