Trump stated that he currently does not plan to provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles and emphasized that doing so could escalate the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested the weapons, but he responded with a firm “No, not really,” while simultaneously leaving room to reverse course if circumstances change.
During the exchange, Trump argued that supplying such advanced missiles could deepen the war rather than push it toward resolution. He described the ongoing conflict as harsh for both sides and suggested that, in his view, some conflicts must be allowed to unfold until the parties involved decide to settle them. When pressed about what conditions would force a decisive end, he offered no specific threshold and instead stated that there is often no final trigger in wars of this nature.
Despite approval from the Pentagon to sell Tomahawks without affecting American stockpiles, Trump asserted that the final decision rests with him and reiterated caution. His stance reflects earlier hesitation to authorize long-range weapons for Ukraine, citing escalation risks and a belief that neither side is close to a decisive victory. Recent diplomatic efforts have also stalled: a meeting planned between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest was shelved, with Trump arguing it would not produce progress toward ending the war.
Zelenskyy’s latest visit to Washington did not yield the missile support Ukraine hoped for, even as Kyiv argues such capability could force Moscow into negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia has issued warnings that supplying Tomahawks would severely damage its relationship with the United States and escalate the conflict into a more dangerous phase. Putin also insisted that Ukraine could not use the missiles without direct U.S. involvement, framing any delivery as a clear provocation.
Tomahawk cruise missiles are known for long-range precision, terrain-hugging flight paths, and deployment from U.S. ships and submarines. Ukraine lacks naval vessels capable of launching the system, though the request reflects Kyiv’s desire to strike deeper into Russian territory. As of now, Trump appears committed to restraining military escalation, while still signaling that U.S. policy could shift depending on how the conflict evolves.
