U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is considering providing Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine a move that could mark a major escalation in Washington’s military support and heighten tensions with Moscow.
When asked by reporters on Sunday whether he would approve the missile transfer, Trump replied, “We’ll see, I may.”
The remark followed his second phone call in recent days with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been urging the United States to strengthen Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities. Ukraine has repeatedly sought weapons capable of reaching deep into Russian territory in response to Moscow’s continued missile and drone attacks.
Tomahawk missiles, which can travel up to 2,500 kilometres (1,500 miles), would bring Moscow and other key Russian targets within Ukraine’s reach. Delivering such systems would represent a significant shift in U.S. policy, allowing Ukraine to conduct strikes well beyond the front lines.
Speaking to reporters en route to Israel, Trump said he may speak directly with Russia about the potential transfer. “I might tell Russia that if the war isn’t settled, we may — very well — we may not, but we may do it,” he said. “Do they want Tomahawks going in their direction? I don’t think so.”
The Kremlin has warned that supplying long-range weapons to Ukraine would be viewed as a provocative escalation. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the threat, saying: “Whether it’s Tomahawks or other missiles, they won’t change the dynamic.”
According to reports, Zelensky’s recent conversations with Trump focused on bolstering Ukraine’s defences against Russia’s missile and air assaults, which have severely damaged energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in cities such as Kyiv.
The U.S. has so far refrained from sending long-range strike systems to avoid provoking a direct confrontation with Russia. However, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, hinted last month at a potential policy shift, saying: “There are no such things as sanctuaries in this war,” a comment widely interpreted as an indication that Washington may no longer oppose Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory.
If approved, the move could redefine the scope of U.S. involvement in the conflict and reshape the strategic balance between Kyiv and Moscow.
