Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has again urged the United States to supply Kyiv with long‑range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia. His request follows President Donald Trump’s decision earlier this month to refuse Tomahawk cruise missiles for Ukraine after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Tomahawk’s maximum range is about 2,500 kilometres.
Although Trump rejected Zelensky’s appeal, he imposed sanctions on Russian oil firms Rosneft and Lukoil. In a phone interview with Axios, Zelensky welcomed the sanctions, saying they “will make a difference.” He stressed, however, that economic measures alone cannot deter Moscow and reiterated his call for long‑range missiles. Zelensky believes such weapons would act as a deterrent, making Russia more likely to negotiate. He suggested that if President Putin understands that refusing talks could threaten “Russia’s energy facilities,” Moscow might be more inclined to engage. Zelensky also assured that Kyiv would not necessarily use any supplied munitions immediately.
President Putin has warned that providing long‑range missiles to Ukraine would severely undermine prospects for a peaceful settlement and damage Moscow‑Washington relations. He cautioned that any Ukrainian strike with Tomahawks would provoke a “very serious, if not downright staggering” Russian response. Moscow says it remains ready for a diplomatic settlement but insists any agreement must address the conflict’s root causes, including guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO, as well as the country’s demilitarization, denazification, and recognition of the current territorial realities.
As tensions continue, the situation remains a focus of international concern, with the risk of further escalation balanced against ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
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