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U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russia, saying he may authorize the delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Moscow fails to bring its war to an end soon. His statement marks one of the strongest signals yet that Washington could escalate its military support for Kyiv.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Israel on Sunday (October 12, 2025), Mr. Trump said, “I might say, ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks.’ The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon — a very offensive weapon — and honestly, Russia does not need that.”
The comments followed a phone call earlier in the day between Mr. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which the two leaders discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and energy resilience. Mr. Trump hinted that he mentioned the possibility of sending Tomahawks during the conversation, adding, “Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so.”
His remarks came amid renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid — part of Moscow’s ongoing efforts to weaken Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Russia’s government responded with “extreme concern” over the prospect of the U.S. supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that such a move would severely damage U.S.–Russia relations. Despite this, Mr. Trump appears increasingly willing to exert pressure on the Kremlin, taking a firmer tone in recent weeks after Mr. Putin declined to engage in direct peace talks with Mr. Zelenskyy.
Mr. Zelenskyy described his conversation with the U.S. President as “very productive,” noting discussions about enhancing Ukraine’s “air defence, resilience, and long-range capabilities,” as well as cooperation in the energy sector.
While President Trump has not yet approved the missile transfer, his remarks indicate a shift toward a harder stance against Moscow. The Tomahawk system would enable Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, potentially altering the balance of the war and pressuring Moscow to return to negotiations.
Mr. Trump concluded his remarks by saying, “I really think Mr. Putin would look great if he got this settled. It’s not going to be good for him if not.”
