President Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the possibility of the U.S. sending long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. While he hasn’t ruled it out, sources suggest he may not commit to this during his upcoming meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the past few weeks, Trump has seemed more open to the idea of arming Ukraine with these advanced weapons. U.S. officials have prepared plans to deliver them if Trump decides to proceed. However, he prefers to understand Zelensky’s strategy before making any commitments.
Zelensky views the Tomahawk missiles, which can target locations over 1,000 miles away, as crucial for shifting the war’s dynamics against Russia. He hopes that the prospect of these missiles would push Putin to negotiate.
Interestingly, just a day before Zelensky’s meeting with Trump, Putin tried to sway Trump against sending these missiles during a lengthy phone call. He even proposed a meeting with Trump in Budapest to discuss the matter further. This strategy seems to have given Putin more time, as Trump appears more eager for a peace agreement following recent successes in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
Trump did not shy away from discussing military options with Putin. He even playfully suggested giving “a couple of thousand Tomahawks” to Ukraine’s forces, which Putin clearly opposed.
According to one Trump administration official, this leverage could be crucial: “Why would he give up that leverage? He won’t remove the threat until it’s no longer necessary.” Another official pointed out that while Trump aims for a diplomatic resolution, the threat of the missiles remains a tool in his arsenal.
Putin has expressed doubts, arguing that Tomahawks may not significantly change the battlefield but could severely strain U.S.-Russian relations. He warned that U.S. involvement would increase if the missiles were deployed in Ukraine.
The risk of escalating the conflict is a topic of concern among U.S. officials. Some worry that sending advanced weaponry could intensify hostilities, while others argue that previous arms support has not meaningfully escalated the situation.
These discussions come at a pivotal moment, as the international community closely monitors the conflict’s development and diplomatic efforts.
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