President Donald Trump has authorized US intelligence agencies to provide Ukraine with targeting data for strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, pipelines, and power plants, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed American officials.
The move marks a shift in the Trump administration’s stance on the war in Ukraine and comes amid growing frustration from Trump over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to engage in peace negotiations.
The intelligence-sharing order was issued shortly before Trump stated publicly that he believes Ukraine could reclaim all its territory from Russia.
Washington has reportedly encouraged NATO allies to provide similar assistance to Kyiv.
Trump Supports UkraineThe
Trump administration is also considering whether to supply Ukraine with long-range missile systems such as Tomahawks and Barracudas, according to the Journal.
These weapons, if approved, would give Ukraine the capability to strike deeper into Russian territory.
Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed earlier discussions regarding the provision of Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of up to 2,500 kilometers.
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Trump has not yet made a final decision on authorizing their transfer.
President Vladimir Putin reiterated that any Western-supplied long-range weapons used to strike inside Russia would constitute direct involvement by NATO countries, the United States, and Europe, effectively bringing them into open conflict with Moscow.
“Ukraine cannot conduct such operations without Western guidance and weapons,” Putin said.
Ukraine Warns Russia
Following a September meeting with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a message to Moscow.
“If Russia continues its full-scale war, Kremlin leaders should make sure they know where the nearest bomb shelters are,” Zelensky said.
Ukraine has previously requested Tomahawk missiles from the United States, including in a classified section of the “victory plan” presented to then-President Joe Biden last year.
Those requests were denied at the time, largely due to concerns about escalation and Ukraine’s ability to use such weapons responsibly.
The Trump administration had restricted Ukraine from using US-supplied long-range systems such as ATACMS for strikes inside Russian territory.
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This will likely lead to an escalation in the conflict, as Washington recalibrates its role and level of engagement in support of Ukraine.
Capability to Launch Tomahawk Missiles Against Russia
Ukraine cannot deploy US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles against Russian targets, according to the Responsible Statecraft portal.
These long-range precision missiles require highly specialized launch platforms, all of which Ukraine currently lacks.
Tomahawks can be launched from guided missile destroyers, Ohio-, Virginia-, and Los Angeles-class submarines, or the US military’s new Typhon ground-based system.
Ukraine lacks these options, and the logistical, technical, and political challenges of obtaining them render deployment impossible.
Analysts stress that without compatible launch infrastructure, even if the missiles themselves were supplied, Ukraine would be unable to use them effectively.
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