President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an update on the possibility of Ukraine receiving Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States.
Zelenskyy, in a statement on November 8, said that Ukraine could acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles if former U.S. President Donald Trump gives the green light.
He noted that discussions with defense partners were ongoing and that manufacturers were ready to supply not only Tomahawks but also other advanced long-range weapons systems.
“Producers are ready to sell. We also discussed other systems, not just Tomahawks, that offer strong long-range capabilities. We’re interested in a full package of options,” the Ukrainian President said.
While responding to a report by the Wall Street Journal stating that the Pentagon has been quietly blocking Kyiv from using US-made long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has been using its own weapons to hit targets deep inside Russia and does not consult with Washington on this.
He has been pushing for the missiles to more effectively target oil and energy facilities deep inside Russia. Tomahawks have a range of around 1,000 miles.
Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy
Trump had said in October during a working lunch with his Ukrainian counterpart at the White House that he would rather not provide the missiles to Ukraine because “we don’t want to be giving away things that we need to protect our country.”
Also Read: Ukraine Lacks Capability to Launch Tomahawk Missiles Against Russia, Experts Reveal
The Joint Staff informed the White House of its assessment last month, just before Trump met with Zelenskyy. The assessment buoyed European allies to the United States, who believe that the US now has fewer excuses not to provide the missiles.
Just days before meeting Zelenskyy, Trump said that the US has “a lot of Tomahawks” that it could potentially give to Ukraine. However, U.S. and European officials were surprised when he dramatically changed his tune days later, saying during opening remarks at a White House working lunch with Zelensky that the U.S. “needs” the Tomahawks. He then told the Ukrainian President, behind closed doors, that the U.S. would not be providing them.
Trump’s decision came one day after he spoke by phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin, however, reportedly told Trump that the strikes would have no significant impact on the battlefield but would damage the U.S.-Russia relationship, according to CNN.
Tomahawk missiles
The Tomahawk is a long-range, precision-guided cruise missile known for its subsonic speed and high accuracy. Depending on the variant, it can strike targets at distances of up to 1,550 miles. Traditionally, these missiles are launched from naval ships, submarines, or specialized ground-based systems — capabilities that Ukraine currently lacks on a large scale.
Also Read: NATO Approves Tomahawk Missile Supply to Ukraine, Dismisses Russian Threat
Due to these logistical limitations, any potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would likely require support infrastructure, trained personnel, or modified launch platforms to make them operational.
Military analysts note that deploying Tomahawks could enable Ukraine to reach deeper into Russian territory, potentially targeting key military bases and energy facilities far beyond the range of its current missile and drone arsenal. The missile has a proven track record in combat, is considered highly reliable, and typically carries a conventional warhead weighing around 1,000 pounds.
Despite their capabilities, experts caution that any delivery to Ukraine would probably involve a limited number of missiles — perhaps dozens rather than hundreds — which would reduce their overall strategic impact. Putin has also downplayed the potential impact of such a move, stating that it would not drastically alter the balance of power.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
