US President Donald Trump has indicated he is considering providing long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said the decision was not final: “We’ll see… I may.”
The comments followed a weekend phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged stronger military capabilities to support counter-attacks against Russian forces. Trump suggested he might discuss the matter with Russia before making a final decision. “I might tell them [Russia] that if the war is not settled, we may very well, we may not, but we may do it,” he said.
Tomahawk missiles have a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), which would place Moscow within reach. Trump added, “Do they [Russia] want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.”
The Kremlin has voiced strong concern over the potential delivery of such weapons. On Sunday, spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the prospect as of “extreme concern” and warned that escalating tensions could have serious consequences. Peskov noted that Russia would not be able to determine whether any launched missiles carried nuclear warheads.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev echoed Peskov’s warning, posting on social media that the delivery of long-range missiles “could end badly for everyone. And first of all – for Trump himself.” Medvedev has increasingly taken a hawkish stance online, often expressing views more extreme than official Kremlin positions.
Ukraine has repeatedly requested long-range missiles since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Kyiv argues the weapons are necessary to target Russian positions far from front-line combat, particularly as Russian drone and missile attacks intensify against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure.
Last month, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested the president had authorized strikes deep into Russian territory, stating, “there are no such things as sanctuaries” from attacks in the conflict.
The discussions between Trump and Zelensky also covered broader efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences and military capabilities ahead of winter, when Russian strikes have historically targeted civilian infrastructure to disrupt power and energy supplies.
The potential provision of Tomahawk missiles underscores the high stakes of U.S. involvement in Ukraine and the delicate balance of managing relations with Moscow amid an ongoing and escalating war.
