President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Moscow, signaling that the United States may supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles if Russia does not soon agree to a negotiated end to the war. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on October 12, 2025, Trump described the Tomahawk as an “incredible weapon, very offensive weapon,” and made clear that the option of sending them to Kyiv is now firmly on the table. “I might say, ‘Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,’” he said, according to The Associated Press. “We may not, but we may do it.”
Trump’s comments mark the most explicit threat yet of a major escalation in U.S. military aid to Ukraine. The president’s warning comes on the heels of another brutal Russian aerial assault on Ukraine’s power grid, part of what Kyiv says is an ongoing campaign to cripple the nation’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter. According to BBC, Trump’s tougher stance on the conflict follows months of frustration over Russia’s refusal to engage in meaningful peace talks and signals a potential strategic pivot that could dramatically alter the battlefield.
The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, a staple of U.S. military operations since 1991, boasts a range of about 1,500 miles and flies at subsonic speeds of 550 mph. More than 2,300 Tomahawks have been fired in combat, with each Block V missile unit costing approximately $2.404 million, as noted by Kurdistan24. If provided to Ukraine, these missiles would grant Kyiv the ability to strike deep inside Russian territory—a prospect that has set off alarm bells in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the Tomahawk missile topic as an “extreme concern” on October 12, 2025. Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, delivered an ominous warning via Telegram: “It’s been said a hundred times, in a manner understandable even to the star-spangled man, that it’s impossible to distinguish a nuclear Tomahawk missile from a conventional one in flight.” Medvedev added, “The delivery of these missiles could end badly for everyone. And most of all, for Trump himself. One can only hope that this is another empty threat, prompted by protracted negotiations with a cocaine-addled clown.”
Medvedev’s remarks, reported by Fox News and Nexstar Media, underscore Russia’s deep unease. He even hinted that Russia’s response could be nuclear if Ukraine were to fire Tomahawks deep into Russian territory, stating, “How should Russia respond? Exactly.” The former president’s colorful language—calling Trump a “business peacemaker” and a “cocaine-fuelled clown”—was widely circulated in Russian and international media, reflecting the heightened tensions and personal animosity that now characterize U.S.-Russia relations.
Trump’s warning to Moscow was not issued in a vacuum. The president confirmed that he had recently discussed the Tomahawk option with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been lobbying for such weapons for months. In a post on social media following their October 12 call, Zelenskyy described the conversation as “very productive,” noting that they discussed “strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, resilience, and long-range capabilities,” as well as “details related to the energy sector.”
When pressed on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing” about whether Tomahawks had been approved, Zelenskyy was cautiously optimistic. “We work on it,” he said. “I’m waiting for [the] president to [say] yes.” Zelenskyy emphasized that any Tomahawk missiles provided would be used “only for military goals,” asserting, “Ukraine never attacks Russian civilians.”
The potential delivery of Tomahawks would mark a significant escalation in U.S. assistance to Ukraine. For months, the Trump administration has restricted Kyiv’s use of American-made long-range missiles, such as the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), for strikes inside Russia. Trump’s recent comments suggest he is now reconsidering that policy, a move that could dramatically shift the strategic calculus of the war.
This shift comes amid a broader backdrop of increased military activity and anxiety across Eastern Europe. As detailed by The Wall Street Journal, Poland has ramped up its military spending to 4.7% of GDP—the highest in NATO—and has become one of the alliance’s largest buyers of U.S. weapons. Recent Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace have triggered direct confrontations with NATO jets, bringing the region “closest to open conflict since World War II,” according to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Trump has offered robust support to Poland, telling President Karol Nawrocki, “We are with Poland all the way and we will help Poland protect itself.” U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Poland “a model ally,” highlighting the country’s pivotal role in NATO’s planning for a potential conflict with Russia. This context of re-militarization and heightened vigilance across Eastern Europe forms the backdrop for Trump’s warning to Moscow.
While Trump has positioned himself as a would-be peacemaker—stating aboard Air Force One, “I really think Putin would look great if he got this settled”—his willingness to escalate U.S. military support for Ukraine reflects growing impatience with Russia’s refusal to engage in direct talks. Last month, Trump even asserted that Ukraine could win back all territory lost to Russia, signaling a dramatic hardening of his stance.
For its part, the Kremlin has warned that U.S. deliveries of Tomahawks would represent a major escalation and could irreparably damage relations between Washington and Moscow. President Putin has previously suggested that such a move would cross a red line, though he has not specified what form Russia’s response might take. The inability to distinguish a nuclear Tomahawk from a conventional one in flight, as Medvedev and Peskov have repeatedly emphasized, only adds to the risks of miscalculation.
As a high-level Ukrainian delegation prepares to visit the U.S. this week for talks focused on air defense and long-range capabilities, the world is watching closely. Trump’s warning—delivered with characteristic bravado—has introduced a new element of uncertainty into the already volatile conflict. Whether it proves to be a negotiating tactic or the prelude to a dangerous new phase remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the stakes, for Ukraine, Russia, and the broader international community, have never been higher.
With diplomatic channels narrowing and military rhetoric intensifying, the question of Tomahawk missiles has become a litmus test for how far the United States is willing to go to support Ukraine—and how far Russia is prepared to push back. The coming weeks will reveal whether Trump’s threat is a bluff or a harbinger of a more perilous chapter in the war.
