President Donald Trump, aboard Air Force One on Sunday, issued a warning to Russia regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, indicating that he might send long-range Tomahawk missiles if the situation does not stabilize soon. Trump's remarks suggested he is ready to intensify the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration using this significant military asset.
While speaking to reporters during his flight to Israel, Trump stated, "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" that is highly offensive and expressed that "Russia does not need that." He further emphasized his conditional stance by stating, "I might tell them that if the war is not settled — that we may very well," but also acknowledged, "We may not, but we may do it. I think it’s appropriate to bring up."
The warning from Trump followed his recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which he mentioned the possibility of sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump speculated about Russia's thoughts on such a move, stating, "Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so." He also noted that he might consider discussing this matter with Russia, labeling Tomahawks as "a new step of aggression."
Trump's comments came in the context of Russia intensifying its military campaign against Ukraine, having recently targeted the country's power grid in a systematic effort to undermine its energy infrastructure as winter approaches. In response, Moscow has expressed "extreme concern" over the potential delivery of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine from the U.S. Putin has indicated previously that providing such long-range missiles to Ukraine would seriously harm U.S.-Russia relations.
In his recap of the call with Trump, Zelenskyy characterized the conversation as "very productive." The two leaders discussed bolstering Ukraine’s air defense and long-range capabilities, as well as energy sector details. When asked about Trump’s approval of the Tomahawks, Zelenskyy indicated ongoing efforts, saying, "I’m waiting for the president to say yes. Of course, we count on such decisions, but we will see."
Furthermore, Zelenskyy mentioned that discussions with U.S. officials are ongoing regarding various long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawk missiles and the ATACMS tactical ballistic missile system. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated the seriousness of the Tomahawk issue during public remarks.
In previous statements, Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in the conflict and hinted at having made a decision regarding the potential provision of Tomahawks to Ukraine, although he did not provide specific details. A senior Ukrainian delegation is expected to visit the United States shortly to further these discussions.
Over the past few weeks, Trump has adopted a firmer stance towards Putin, particularly as the Russian leader has been uncommunicative about direct negotiations with Zelenskyy aimed at de-escalation. Notably, Trump recently stated that he now believes Ukraine has the potential to reclaim all territories lost to Russia, marking a significant shift from his earlier calls for Kyiv to concede in order to achieve peace.
Trump’s comments during the flight highlighted his belief that Putin could emerge favorably by resolving the conflict, suggesting it would not bode well for the Russian president if it remained unresolved.
