President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Moscow: unless Russia moves to end its war in Ukraine soon, the United States may send long-range Tomahawk missiles to bolster Ukraine’s defenses. The announcement, made aboard Air Force One as Trump traveled to the Middle East to mark a peace plan in Gaza, marks a significant escalation in rhetoric and signals a possible turning point in U.S. involvement in the nearly four-year-old conflict.
Speaking to reporters on October 12, 2025, the president was unequivocal about the potential consequences for Russia if the war drags on. “I might say, 'Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I'm going to send them Tomahawks,'” Trump declared. He emphasized the destructive power of the weapon, calling it “an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that.” According to Associated Press, Trump suggested that the mere threat of supplying such advanced weaponry could be enough to push Moscow toward a diplomatic resolution.
Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers), are capable of striking deep inside Russian territory—including military bases, logistics hubs, and even Moscow itself. As Sky News reported, the U.S. president also revealed that he had already discussed the possibility of Ukraine receiving Tomahawks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said, “I might tell them that if the war is not settled—that we may very well. We may not, but we may do it. I think it's appropriate to bring up.”
The conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy took place earlier the same day, and both leaders described it as productive. Zelenskyy, speaking to Fox News after the call, clarified that Tomahawks would only be used for military objectives and not to target civilians. He added, “Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see.” Zelenskyy has been in talks with U.S. officials about acquiring various long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawks and more ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.
The potential delivery of Tomahawks has rattled nerves in Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, as cited by Sky News, labeled the topic “of extreme concern.” Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev went a step further, warning that it is impossible to distinguish between Tomahawk missiles armed with nuclear warheads and those carrying conventional payloads once they are launched. Medvedev ominously hinted at a possible nuclear response, stating, “How should Russia respond? Exactly!” on Telegram. He added, “One can only hope that this is another empty threat... like sending nuclear submarines closer to Russia.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that the U.S. supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine would “seriously damage relations” between Moscow and Washington. Trump, for his part, acknowledged the gravity of the move, calling Tomahawks “a new step of aggression.” He added, “Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don't think so. I think I might speak to Russia about that.”
The threat comes against the backdrop of intensifying hostilities on the ground. Over the weekend, Russia renewed its campaign to cripple Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, launching attacks on the country’s power grid. Zelenskyy reported that Russia had fired more than 3,100 drones, 92 missiles, and approximately 1,360 glide bombs at Ukraine in the past week alone. “Russia continues its aerial terror against our cities and communities, intensifying strikes on our energy infrastructure,” Zelenskyy wrote on X (formerly Twitter), as quoted by Sky News.
Despite the onslaught, Ukrainian forces have claimed modest gains along the sprawling 775-mile (1,250-kilometer) frontline. Kyiv reported advances of more than 3 kilometers south of Zaporizhzhia and ongoing progress around the town of Dobropillia, a key logistical target for Russian troops in the Donetsk region. The Russian defense ministry, however, made no mention of these Ukrainian advances, instead stating that Moscow’s troops had hit Ukrainian forces and equipment in Zaporizhzhia.
The war, now more than three-and-a-half years old, has seen both sides offer conflicting accounts of the situation on the ground. President Putin told senior officers last week that Russian forces had captured 1,930 square miles of territory this year and maintained the strategic advantage across the front. In response, Zelenskyy asserted that Ukrainian troops were inflicting heavy losses on Russian forces near Dobropillia and “defending ourselves along all other directions.”
Trump’s willingness to consider sending Tomahawks represents a marked shift in his approach to the conflict. While he has previously urged Kyiv to make concessions to end the war, he recently declared that he now believes Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia—a dramatic departure from his earlier stance. According to The Associated Press, this tougher line has emerged after Putin declined to engage in direct talks with Zelenskyy about reducing the fighting. Trump said aboard Air Force One, “I really think Putin would look great if he got this settled” and cautioned, “It’s not going to be good for him” if the war continues.
The U.S. president’s remarks have also highlighted divisions within the American administration. Vice President JD Vance has echoed the sentiment that Russia should “wake up and accept reality” by entering serious negotiations, while Trump has floated the possibility of additional sanctions against Russia if progress is not made. The potential provision of Tomahawks would likely involve first notifying Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Trump indicating he would consider providing the missiles to NATO, which could then transfer them to Ukraine.
For Zelenskyy, the possibility of receiving Tomahawks is seen as a means to pressure Russia into meaningful peace talks. “We see and hear that Russia is afraid that the Americans may give us Tomahawks—that this kind of pressure may work for peace,” Zelenskyy said on October 12, 2025, as reported by Reuters. The Ukrainian leader has also called for tighter sanctions on buyers of Russian oil and is preparing for a senior Ukrainian delegation to visit the U.S. this week to discuss further support.
As the prospect of Tomahawk deliveries looms, officials on both sides are sounding warnings about the risks of escalation. The Kremlin has made clear that any such move would be viewed as a dangerous provocation, while the White House appears to be weighing the potential benefits of increased pressure against the dangers of further inflaming the conflict. In the meantime, Ukraine’s struggle to defend its territory and infrastructure continues, with the coming winter likely to test both its military resilience and the resolve of its international backers.
With diplomatic efforts stalled and the threat of new, longer-range weapons entering the battlefield, the next chapter of the war in Ukraine could be decided as much by high-stakes brinkmanship as by fighting on the ground.