In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Vladimir Putin that the United States could send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Russia refuses to end its war. The statement has sparked alarm in Moscow, with the Kremlin calling it an “extreme concern.”
Trump expressed disappointment over his inability to stop the Russia-Ukraine war, despite early hopes that he could broker peace soon after taking office. He reminded reporters that resolving the conflict was supposed to be one of his first diplomatic victories.
During face-to-face talks with Putin in Alaska this past August, both sides exchanged what insiders described as “warm words.” But despite lengthy discussions, fighting across Eastern Europe has only intensified. In recent weeks, Russia has launched some of the largest missile and drone attacks since its invasion began in February 2022.
Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Israel, Trump told reporters:
“If this war is not going to get settled, I might send them Tomahawks. Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so. That’s a new step of aggression.”
The Tomahawk missile, capable of striking targets up to 1,550 miles away, can carry nearly 1,000 pounds of high explosives. While there exists a nuclear variant, U.S. officials have confirmed that no nuclear versions would ever be sent to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia’s latest attacks have focused heavily on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, striking power facilities across Donetsk, Odesa, and Chernihiv. Kyiv regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported that two employees of Ukraine’s energy giant DTEK were injured in the bombardment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Moscow’s tactics, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“Russia continues its aerial terror against our cities and communities… launching more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and 1,360 glide bombs this week alone.”
Zelensky confirmed that discussions with U.S. officials are underway regarding additional long-range precision weapons, including Tomahawks and ATACMS missiles.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded sharply, saying:
“The topic of Tomahawks is of extreme concern. This is a very dramatic moment, with tensions escalating from all sides.”
Adding to the debate, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, one of Putin’s closest allies, dismissed the threat as part of Trump’s negotiation tactics.
“Our friend Donald sometimes takes a forceful approach, then steps back. I don’t think we’ll see missiles flying tomorrow,” Lukashenko told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin in comments shared on Telegram.
As the U.S.–Russia tensions continue to grow and the war in Ukraine grinds on, Trump’s latest remarks have thrown another unpredictable twist into an already volatile geopolitical standoff.
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