U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Moscow after warning that he might supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles if Russia refuses to end its war there soon. The statement, made during his flight to Israel aboard Air Force One, has drawn sharp criticism from top Russian officials, including former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Trump told reporters that he had discussed the idea with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying,
“If this war doesn’t get settled, I might send them Tomahawks. It’s an incredible weapon very offensive. Russia does not need that.”
He added that he was considering bringing up the issue directly with Moscow:
“Do they want Tomahawks coming in that direction? I don’t think so. I think I might speak to Russia about that.”
Trump’s remarks quickly made their way to the Kremlin, where senior figures reacted with outrage. Dmitry Medvedev a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning on Telegram, saying that delivering U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could “end badly for everyone,” particularly for Trump himself.
Medvedev claimed that Russia would interpret any Ukrainian launch of a Tomahawk missile as a direct act by the United States. He wrote:
“It’s impossible to distinguish a nuclear Tomahawk from a conventional one in flight. It won’t be Kyiv launching them it will be the United States. Read: Trump.”
The Russian politician suggested that such a move could escalate into a much wider conflict. He also mocked Trump’s comments as yet another empty threat, describing them as the product of “prolonged negotiations with a cocaine-addled clown,” a jab widely interpreted as aimed at Ukrainian leadership.
While Trump’s statement may have been intended as a pressure tactic to push Moscow toward peace talks, it has raised new fears about potential escalation between two nuclear powers. Analysts say that the mere mention of Tomahawk missiles which can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads introduces a dangerous layer of uncertainty into an already volatile situation.
As diplomatic tensions rise, both Washington and Moscow face mounting pressure to avoid crossing red lines that could lead to a broader confrontation. Whether Trump’s warning was a negotiating strategy or a serious policy proposal remains to be seen but it’s clear that the Kremlin took it seriously.
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