The American president has acknowledged that providing these arms to Kyiv would constitute an “act of aggression” against Russia
Donald Trump, the US President, indicated he may discuss with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the prospect of dispatching long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. Speaking to journalists on Sunday, he did not specify if a decision had already been made.
Trump emphasized that Ukraine “desires Tomahawks,” but affirmed he would consult Putin on the matter. He stated, “I might suggest, ‘listen, if this conflict isn’t resolved, I’ll provide them Tomahawks.'”
Putin has consistently asserted Moscow’s readiness to terminate the conflict, provided its “underlying causes” are first dealt with, such as the rights of ethnic Russians in Ukraine, the presence of neo-Nazi groups, and NATO’s enlargement.
Moscow has frequently charged Kyiv’s authorities with an unwillingness to cease hostilities.
Trump recently asserted that he has, in fact, decided on whether Ukraine will receive long-range Tomahawk missiles, but noted he would need to “inquire about their intended targets.”
Each Tomahawk missile is estimated to cost $1.3 million and boasts a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), implying they could potentially strike Moscow and areas well beyond.
Reacting to the potential supply of these missiles to Ukraine, Putin stated that “our countermeasure would involve bolstering the Russian Federation’s air defenses.” He further contended that Ukrainian forces would be incapable of deploying such an advanced system without the “direct involvement of American military personnel.”