Trump: We could give Kiev Tomahawks if Putin doesn't end the war

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about Kiev's request for weapons, including Tomahawk missiles. These have a range of 2,500 kilometers and could therefore also reach Moscow.

Trump said on Sunday that the US would not sell the missiles directly to Ukraine, but would make them available to NATO, which could then hand them over to the Ukrainians. “Yes, maybe I would tell him (Putin) that we could do that if the war is not ended. Maybe not, but maybe so… Do they really want to risk Tomahawks flying in their direction? I don't think so,” Trump said.

The Kremlin warned against any delivery of Tomahawks to Ukraine, as they could not be used without the direct involvement of US military personnel. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this would trigger a “qualitatively new phase of escalation.”

Zelensky emphasized that long-range missiles would be used exclusively against military targets and described Russia's fears as an incentive to continue. “We see and hear that Russia fears the Americans might supply us with Tomahawks — and that precisely such pressure could work in favor of peace,” Zelensky said.

(reuters, est)