The United States is unlikely to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, despite having a substantial stockpile of the weapons. According to Reuters, the US Navy and other military branches have already committed to using the missiles, making it impractical to divert them to Ukraine. The development comes after Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky reportedly requested the missiles from US President Donald Trump, with the aim of expediting the end of the conflict with Russia.
US Vice President J.D. Vance stated that the US is considering Ukraine’s request, but the final decision would rest with President Trump. However, with the current inventories of Tomahawk missiles committed to the US Navy and other uses, the Trump administration’s ability to provide them to Ukraine is limited. The missiles have a range of 2,500km and cost an estimated $1.3 million each.
While there is no shortage of the weapon itself, US officials have emphasized that priorities lie elsewhere. The US may consider alternative shorter-range options for Ukraine, which could be purchased by the country’s European backers and later transferred to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the possible supply of Tomahawks to Ukraine would represent a serious escalation, requiring the direct participation of American military personnel. He stated that the delivery of such missiles would not change the balance of power on the battlefield but would damage relations between Russia and the US.
Putin compared the potential deployment of Tomahawks to the earlier delivery of long-range US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, noting that while the ATACMS caused some damage, Russia’s air defense systems adapted. He expressed confidence that Russia would be able to shoot down the Tomahawks and improve its air defense system if necessary. The development highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and the US, with the conflict in Ukraine remaining a major point of contention. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the US will respond to Ukraine’s request and what implications this may have for the region.